Classification of Diseases

Question 1

Disease definition

Answer 1

A disease is an illness or sickness characterised by specific signs or symptoms

Question 2

What is the study of disease

Answer 2

The study of disease is called pathology, which includes the study of cause.

Question 3

What are the 4 types of diseases?

Answer 3

1. Infectious diseases
2. Deficiency diseases
3. Genetic diseases (both hereditary and non-hereditary)
4. Psychological diseases

Question 4

Acute diseases

Answer 4

Acute diseases are those conditions where the peak of the severity of symptoms occurs within three months (usually sooner), and recovery in those who survive is usually complete.

Question 5

Two examples of acute diseases

Answer 5

Communicable - Pertussis (whooping cough)
Non-communicable - Appendicitis

Question 6

Chronic diseases

Answer 6

Chronic disease or conditions are those in which symptoms surpass three months and in some cases lifelong. Recovery is slow and sometimes incomplete.

Question 7

Two examples of Chronic diseases

Answer 7

Communicable - Lyme disease
Non-communicable - cirrhosis

Question 8

Communicable (Infectious) diseases

Answer 8

• Diseases for which biological agents or their products are the cause and which are transmissible from one individual to another.
• The disease process begins when the causative agent is able to lodge and grow or reproduce within the body.
• The process of lodgement and growth of microorganism or virus in the host is termed infection.

Question 9

Non-communicable (noninfectious) Diseases/illnesses

Answer 9

• Those diseases are illnesses that cannot be transmitted from an infected person to a susceptible healthy one.
• Several, or even many, factors may contribute to the development of a given non-communicable health condition.
• The contributing factors may be genetic, environmental or behavioural in nature.

Question 10

Most used systems of diseases classification

Answer 10

World Health Organisation’s ICD (Internations statistical classification of diseases and related health problems)

Question 11

Advantages of ICD

Answer 11

1. fast aggregation of health data.
2. To know the real time information about current health situation.
3. Wider analysis of community health.
4. Global health assessment.

Question 12

Limitations of ICD

Answer 12

1. Discussion is limited to classified diseases.
2. Common term descriptions of diseases.
3. Covers the most common diseases.
4. Country specific modifications of certain diseases.

Question 13

Chain of infection

Answer 13

No matter the germ, there are 6 points at which the chain can be broken and a germ can be stopped from infecting others. The 6 points include: the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Question 14

Viruses - What are they and how do they get into the body to cause infection?

Answer 14

Viruses are found as intracellular parasites in all kinds of organisms (humans, plants, animals, bacteria)

Question 15

Viruses - how do they get into the body to cause infection?

Answer 15

Viruses are generally spread from one person to another in droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, vomits or has sex.

Question 16

Viruses - The three main steps of viral infection

Answer 16

Attachment (entry), Penetration (genome replication), and Uncoating (exit)

Question 17

Viruses - Examples of viruses?

Answer 17

Influenza
HIV
Ebola
Hepatitis
Rabies

Question 18

Parasites - What are they?

Answer 18

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites can cause disease in humans.

Question 19

Emerging Infectious diseases - what diseases are present/returning?

Answer 19

Emerging diseases are those that are new with no previous history in the human population.
Re-emerging diseases are those which are known but have become drug-resistant pathogens that are adapting.
Examples of re-emerging infectious diseases include cholera, pneumonia, gonorrhoea, turbeculosis, malaria

Question 20

Parasites - What are endoparasites?

Answer 20

The parasites that live inside the body of their host. Examples include flatworms & roundworms.

Question 21

Infectious diseases - In the digestive system include;

Answer 21

Cholera
Viral Hepatitis
bacterial food poisoning

Question 22

Infectious diseases - symptoms of diseases in the digestive tract include

Answer 22

Pain (moderate - severe) - tummy pains = signs of indigestion, stomach ulcers & cancers.
Bleeding or change in bowel function - blood in poo = lower gastrointestinal bleeding signs of food poisoning, ulcer, cancer
Gastric reflux, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea = nausea & vomiting are the bodies response to a pathogen in tummy/throat.
Nutritional deficiencies - malnutrition = changes in eating habits.

Question 23

Food poisoning - what is it? how is it caused?

Answer 23

Food poisoning = gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach/intestines. It is any illness that is suddenly onset accompanied with stomach pains, vomiting caused by eating contaminated foods.
Caused by food contamination with bacteria/viruses or chemical contamination.

Question 24

Cholera - what is it? how is it caused?

Answer 24

Acute intestinal infection caused by Vibro Colarae
Lasts between 1 > 5 days
The bacterium causes copious, painless diarrhea = severe dehydration and death if not treated.

Question 25

Cholera in communities - how is it shared? How is it treated?

Answer 25

Shared through poor hygiene, fecal matter shared throughout water systems that are shared to wash, clothes, bodies, food etc.
- Oral rehydration solutions (ORS)
- Modern ORS = simple and inexpensive. They contain salts in specific ratios designed to replenish lost fluids amd electrolytes.
- Carbohydrates, such as glucose are added to enhance electrolyte absorption.

Question 26

Food poisoning - what foods? how is it treated? How do avoid it?

Answer 26

High risk foods include; Custards, poultry (eggs, raw chicken), Han, packaging (poorly packaged, prepared/stored).
Treating food poisoning is as simple as replenishing the lost fluids with water and electrolytes after.
To avoid = re-heat food, boil for upwards of 30 minutes.

Question 27

Malaria - What is it? How is it caused? what are its 4 species?

Answer 27

Malaria is a often fatal parasitic protozoan disease.
Caused and transmitted through mosquito bites.
- Plasmodium falciparum (deadliest)
- Plasmodium vivax (most frequent)
- Plasmodium ovale (malaria caused by other plasmodium varients outside of viva)
- Plasmodium malariae (Causes malaria, less deadly but has been present for thousands of years.)

Question 28

Malaria - Symptoms

Answer 28

Usually appear 1-2 weeks after being bitten
Headache
vomiting
shivering
pain in joints
coma
fever

Question 29

What is the difference between bacteria & Viruses?

Answer 29

Bacteria are single cells that can survive on their own, inside or outside the body.
Viruses cause infections by entering and multiplying inside the host’s healthy cells.
It can be difficult to know what causes an infection, because viral and bacterial infections can cause similar symptoms.

Question 30

Bacteria - what is the difference between good & bad bacteria?

Answer 30

Not pathogenic - Good bacteria have health maintenance and anti-aging effects such as aiding digestion and absorption, and stimulating immunity.

Pathogenic bacteria - Harmful bacteria are called pathogenic bacteria because they cause diseases and illnesses.

Question 31

How Cholera causes diarrhea? Effect on digestive system?

Answer 31

A bacterium called Vibrio cholerae causes cholera infection. The deadly effects of the disease are the result of a toxin the bacteria produces in the small intestine. The toxin causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water, leading to diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts (electrolytes)

Question 32

If infected with Cholera - once it has been treated would you need to continue to drink the ORS.
Should the villagers be concerned that this bacterial virus will be harmful to own cells?

Answer 32

It would be smart for the villagers to continue to drink the ORS until they are certain that all traces of the feral matter is cleared from all of the available water resources.
While bacteria can survive on its own inside or outside the body viruses cannot however it has been shown that cholera bacterium that is in water can stay alive for days. But they are not damaging to their cells, as it just excretes all the guilds from the gut rather than damaging neurons.

Question 33

What causes Mould - What makes a mould good & bad?

Answer 33

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding.
Good = mold is a natural and essential part of the environment. It breaks down organic matter, makes delicious food to eat, and can be used to make clothes, building materials, and even furniture. Problems with mold usually occur when mold is found in an area where it shouldn’t be.
Bad = Spores are carried in the air and may cause health problems if inhaled by people who are sensitive or allergic to them. Health effects of mould exposure include a runny or blocked nose, irritation of the eyes and skin, and sometimes wheezing.