Communicable Diseases Flashcards
1
Q
What is health?
A
State of physical and mental well-being.
2
Q
What are communicable diseases?
A
Infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protists, or fungi.
3
Q
How can communicable diseases be transmitted?
A
They can be passed on from individuals and even between different species.
4
Q
Name some factors that affect health.
A
- Diet
- Stress
- Life situations
- Part of the world where you live
- Gender
- Financial status
- Ethnic group
- Levels of free health care provided where you live
- Local sewage and rubbish disposal
5
Q
How does diet impact health?
A
Not getting enough food or the right nutrients can lead to diseases like starvation, anaemia, or rickets. Too much food or the wrong type can lead to obesity, cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
6
Q
What health problems are linked to high stress levels?
A
Increased risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and mental health problems.
7
Q
How do different diseases interact?
A
Some diseases can make others worse.
8
Q
Give an example of how viruses can affect health.
A
Viruses living in cells can trigger changes that lead to cancers.
9
Q
What is the impact of defects in the immune system?
A
It can lead to ineffective immune responses, increasing susceptibility to other communicable diseases.
10
Q
How can immune reactions be triggered?
A
By pathogens which can cause allergies to environmental factors.
11
Q
What is the relationship between physical and mental health?
A
Severe physical ill health can lead to mental illness.
12
Q
What issues are often linked to malnutrition?
A
- Deficiency diseases
- Weakened immune system
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancer
13
Q
Fill in the blank: The interaction between different factors including lifestyle, environment, and _______ is important to remember when looking at different types of diseases.
A
[pathogens]
14
Q
What are the two main types of pathogens that cause diseases in humans?
A
Bacteria and viruses
In plants, viruses and fungi are most common.
15
Q
What are bacteria?
A
Single-celled living organisms that are very small
Act as decomposers in the body and in the environment.
16
Q
What is the significance of pathogenic bacteria?
A
They are the minority but have major effects on individuals and society.
17
Q
How do viruses compare in size to bacteria?
A
Viruses are even smaller than bacteria.
18
Q
What shapes do viruses usually have?
A
Regular shapes.
19
Q
In which types of organisms do viruses cause diseases?
A
Every type of living organism.
20
Q
How do bacteria cause disease? List the methods.
A
- Divide rapidly (binary fission)
- Produce toxins
- Sometimes directly damage cells.
21
Q
How do viruses cause disease?
A
They take over the cells of the body, live and reproduce inside them, damaging and destroying them.
22
Q
What are common symptoms of disease?
A
- High temperature
- Headaches
- Rashes.
23
Q
What is one way pathogens are spread through the air?
A
Droplet infection.
24
Q
How are pathogens expelled from the body?
A
Through tiny droplets when coughing, sneezing, or talking.
25
What is another method of pathogen spread?
Direct contact.
26
How can sexually transmitted infections be spread?
By direct contact of the skin.
27
How can pathogens enter the body through direct contact?
Through cuts, scratches, and needle punctures.
28
What role do animals play in the spread of diseases?
They can act as vectors of disease.
29
How can water spread pathogens?
By containing fungal spores or through contaminated food and water.
30
What are lifestyle factors?
Factors that affect the spread of disease.
31
Fill in the blank: Pathogenic bacteria are the _______ but significant due to their effects.
minority.
32
What process do bacteria use to divide rapidly?
Binary fission.
33
Why are bacteria grown in large numbers in the lab?
To see the colony and investigate which chemicals are best to kill them and what nutrients they need to grow.
34
What is culture medium?
A liquid or gel containing nutrients for growing microorganisms.
35
What are the key components of culture medium?
* Carbohydrates as an energy source
* Various minerals
* Nitrogen source for protein synthesis.
36
What conditions do microorganisms need to grow?
* Warmth
* Oxygen.
37
What is the purpose of cooling hot agar gel before adding microorganisms?
To prevent killing the microorganisms.
38
What is the risk of contamination when growing microorganisms?
It can lead to mutations and the production of new and dangerous pathogens.
39
What materials are needed for growing useful organisms?
* Sterilised petri dish
* Sterilised counter
* Nutrient agar.
40
How are glass dishes sterilised?
By heating.
41
What is the first step in inoculating agar?
Sterilise the inoculating loop in a bunsen burner.
42
What technique is used to inoculate the agar with bacteria?
Make zigzag streaks on the agar with the sterilised loop.
43
What is the recommended maximum temperature for incubating petri dishes?
25°C.
44
What is the risk of incubating petri dishes at 37°C?
High risk of growing some dangerous pathogens.
45
Why should the lid of the petri dish be fixed with tape?
To prevent air contamination while allowing oxygen to enter.
46
How should the petri dish be stored to avoid contamination?
Upside down.
47
Fill in the blank: Microorganisms need warmth and _______ to grow.
[oxygen].
48
True or False: Contamination of cultures can come from skin, air, soil, or water.
True.
49
How do bacteria reproduce?
Through simple binary fission in suitable conditions.
50
What factors affect bacterial growth rate?
Temperature, available nutrients, oxygen levels, pH.
51
What is the formula to calculate the number of bacteria after a growth period?
Bacteria at the end = bacteria at the beginning x 2^number of divisions.
52
How can bacterial growth be prevented?
By raising or lowering temperature, using chemicals to stop growth or kill bacteria.
53
What are disinfectants?
Chemicals used to kill bacteria in the environment.
54
What is an antiseptic?
A disinfectant that is safe to use on human skin.
55
What are antibiotics?
Chemicals used inside bodies that kill bacteria and prevent growth.
56
What is the first step in calculating the effect of disinfectants on bacterial growth?
Measure the diameter of the circle in the agar gel.
57
How do you find the radius from the diameter of the circle?
Divide diameter by two.
58
What formula is used to calculate the area of the circle?
Area = π x radius^2.
59
True or False: Bacteria can divide every twenty minutes under optimal conditions.
True.
60
Fill in the blank: Chemicals used to kill bacteria in the environment are called _______.
[disinfectants].
61
Fill in the blank: The growth rate of bacteria can be affected by _______.
[temperature, nutrients, oxygen levels, pH].
62
Who was the doctor in the mid-1850s that noticed the connection between handwashing and childbed fever?
Semmelweis
63
What was the main observation Semmelweis made about medical students and childbed fever?
Students went from dissecting a dead body to delivering a baby without washing their hands
64
What did Semmelweis insist medical students do before delivering babies?
Wash their hands
65
What was the effect of Semmelweis's handwashing protocol on maternal mortality?
Fewer mothers died from the fever
66
True or False: Other doctors were receptive to Semmelweis's ideas.
False
67
Who discovered that microorganisms cause disease and developed vaccines?
Louis Pasteur
68
What did Joseph Lister use to destroy pathogens before they caused infection?
Antiseptic chemicals
69
How did improvements in microscopes contribute to medical understanding?
Allowed clearer observation of pathogens
70
What is an effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens?
Hygiene
71
Fill in the blank: Handwashing is especially important after _______.
Using the toilet
72
What should be done to kitchen work surfaces to reduce pathogens?
Use disinfectants
73
Why should raw meat be kept away from food that is eaten uncooked?
To prevent the spread of pathogens
74
What is a recommended practice when coughing or sneezing?
Into a handkerchief, tissue, or hands (then washing)
75
What does isolating infected individuals help prevent?
The spread of pathogens
76
What are some examples of vectors that can spread communicable diseases?
* Mosquitoes
* Rats
* Aphids
77
What is the purpose of vaccination?
To prepare the immune system against specific pathogens
78
Fill in the blank: Vaccination introduces a small amount of a _______ form of a specific pathogen.
Harmless
79
What do memory cells do in the context of vaccination?
Remember the pathogen for future protection
80
True or False: Vaccination is ineffective for protecting large populations against serious diseases.
False
81
What do viruses infect and damage?
All types of cells
82
Why is it important to stop the spread of viral diseases?
Scientists have not developed medicines to cure viral diseases
83
What are symptoms a result of in viral diseases?
The body's reaction to viruses damaging and destroying cells
84
What are the symptoms of measles?
* Fever
* Red skin
85
How is measles spread?
* Inhalation of droplets from coughs and sneezes
* Air droplet particles
86
What may measles cause?
* Blindness
* Brain damage
87
What is the treatment/prevention for measles?
* No treatment
* Isolation to stop the spread
* Vaccine that prevents the spread of measles
88
What are the symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
Flu-like illness
89
How is HIV/AIDS spread?
* Directly through sexual contact
* Body fluids
90
How does HIV/AIDS affect the immune system?
Hides in the immune system until it is badly damaged
91
What are the treatments/preventions for HIV/AIDS?
* No cure
* Antiretroviral drugs to prevent the development of AIDS
* No vaccine
92
What symptoms does the Tobacco Mosaic Virus cause?
Distinctive 'mosaic' pattern of discolouration
93
How is the Tobacco Mosaic Virus spread?
* Contact between diseased plant material and healthy plants
* Insects can act as vectors
94
What effects does the Tobacco Mosaic Virus have on plants?
No growth in the plant as infected areas cannot photosynthesize
95
What are the treatments/preventions for the Tobacco Mosaic Virus?
* Farmers grow TMV-resistant strains of crop plants
* Good crop hygiene and pest control
96
Fill in the blank: Symptoms of measles include _______.
Fever, Red skin
97
True or False: There is a vaccine for measles.
True
98
Fill in the blank: HIV/AIDS spreads directly through _______ and body fluids.
Sexual contact
99
What is a key factor in combating bacterial diseases?
Antibiotics, which kill bacteria or stop them growing.
## Footnote
Antibiotics are crucial in curing bacterial diseases but can lead to resistance.
100
What can happen when bacteria become resistant?
They can survive despite antibiotic treatment, making infections harder to treat.
## Footnote
Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in medicine.
101
What are the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning?
* Fever
* Abdominal cramps
* Vomiting
* Diarrhoea
* Develop within 8-72 hours of eating infected food
## Footnote
Symptoms can vary in severity and duration.
102
How is Salmonella food poisoning spread?
By eating food where bacteria has not been killed by heating.
## Footnote
Proper cooking can eliminate Salmonella.
103
What is a prevention method for Salmonella food poisoning?
Vaccination of poultry to control the spread of the disease.
## Footnote
Vaccination can reduce the incidence of Salmonella in food sources.
104
Is there a treatment for Salmonella food poisoning once eaten?
No, there is no treatment once ingested.
## Footnote
Management focuses on hydration and symptom relief.
105
What are the symptoms of Gonorrhoea?
* Green/yellow discharge
* Pain on urination
## Footnote
Symptoms may not always be present, especially in women.
106
How is Gonorrhoea spread?
Through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.
## Footnote
Safe sex practices can significantly reduce transmission.
107
What may Gonorrhoea cause if left untreated?
* Pelvic pain
* Infertility
* Ectopic pregnancies
## Footnote
Complications can be severe, particularly for women.
108
What is the primary treatment for Gonorrhoea?
Antibiotics, although there are antibiotic-resistant strains.
## Footnote
Treatment effectiveness may vary due to resistance.
109
Is there a vaccine to prevent Gonorrhoea?
No, there is currently no vaccine available.
## Footnote
Research is ongoing to develop a vaccine.
110
What preventive method can be used against Gonorrhoea?
Barrier methods of contraception.
## Footnote
These methods help reduce the risk of transmission.
111
What are the symptoms of bacterial diseases in plants?
Crown galls, which are masses of unspecialized cells.
## Footnote
These galls often grow at the joint between the root and shoot.
112
How do bacteria spread in plants?
By inserting plasmids into plant cells, causing new genetically modified cells to grow.
## Footnote
This mechanism is utilized in genetic engineering.
113
How have bacteria become important in genetically modifying plants?
They can carry desirable genes into the cells they infect.
## Footnote
This method allows for targeted genetic modifications.
114
What are common symptoms of fungal diseases?
Irritation, scaly skin, redness, itching, swelling
## Footnote
These symptoms can vary depending on the type of fungal infection.
115
What type of drugs are effective against skin fungi?
Antifungal drugs
## Footnote
These drugs are specifically designed to target fungal infections on the skin.
116
What makes deep-seated tissue infections harder to treat?
They are harder to treat than skin infections
## Footnote
Deep tissue infections can be more severe and may require more aggressive treatment.
117
In which patients can fungal infections be fatal?
In patients with already compromised health
## Footnote
Fungal infections can severely impact those with weakened immune systems.
118
What can develop fungal infections in the heart?
Damaged heart valves
## Footnote
Fungal infections can occur in the heart due to existing damage or conditions.
119
What are the effects of fungal infections on crops?
Crop loss due to various diseases
## Footnote
Fungal infections can lead to significant agricultural challenges.
120
What are the symptoms of rose black spot?
Purple or black spots on leaves, leaves turn yellow and drop early
## Footnote
These symptoms indicate the presence of rose black spot disease.
121
How does rose black spot affect a plant's health?
Reduces area of leaves for photosynthesis, may prevent flowering
## Footnote
This can lead to overall weakness in the plant.
122
How is rose black spot spread in the environment?
Carried by the wind, spread by raindrops
## Footnote
Water droplets can transfer the infection from one plant to another.
123
What are some treatment or prevention methods for rose black spot?
Removing and burning affected leaves, using chemical fungicides, breeding resistant rose types
## Footnote
These methods help manage and prevent the spread of the disease.
124
Can rose black spot be completely prevented or cured?
Cannot be prevented or cured
## Footnote
While treatments can manage symptoms, the disease itself cannot be eradicated.
125
What are protists?
Types of single-celled organisms that cause a range of diseases in animals and plants.
126
How do diseases caused by protists usually spread?
Involves a vector that transfers the protist to the host.
127
What is a serious example of a protist disease?
Malaria.
128
List some symptoms of malaria.
* Fever
* Shaking when protists burst out of the blood cells
* Weakens affected person over time.
129
Which organs are affected by malaria?
* Liver
* Damages red blood cells.
130
How do protists reproduce in malaria?
Sexually in the mosquito and asexually in the human body.
131
What role do mosquitoes play in the spread of malaria?
Act as vectors of disease.
132
What does a female mosquito need before laying her eggs?
Two meals of human blood.
133
How do protists travel in the human body?
Through the circulatory system.
134
What are some treatments for malaria?
Combination of drugs, not always available in countries most affected.
135
Why is treatment for malaria complicated?
Protists have become resistant to some of the most commonly used medicines.
136
What are some treatments targeting the mosquito vector?
* Insecticide-impregnated insect nets
* Insecticides to kill mosquitoes in homes and offices
* Preventing vectors from breeding by removing standing water
* Spraying water with insecticides to kill larvae.
137
What do travelers take to prevent malaria?
Antimalarial drugs that kill the parasites in the blood if they are bitten.
138
What are nonspecific defences in the body?
Nonspecific defences stop microorganisms from entering the body and act as the first line of defence.
139
What do specific defences target?
Specific defences target pathogens that make it into the body and serve as the second line of defence.
140
What is the primary function of skin in nonspecific defences?
The skin acts as a physical barrier, preventing pathogens from entering the tissues beneath.
141
What additional function does the skin perform to protect against pathogens?
The skin produces antimicrobial secretion to destroy pathogens.
142
What occurs when the skin barrier is broken?
Platelets help the blood to clot, forming a scab to restore the physical barrier.
143
How does the respiratory system contribute to nonspecific defences?
The nose contains hair and mucus to trap particles in the air that may contain pathogens.
144
What role do cilia play in the respiratory system's defence?
Cilia line the airways and waft mucus up to the back of the throat to be swallowed.
145
What happens to microorganisms in the digestive system?
Microorganisms on food and drink are swallowed and reach the stomach.
146
What does the stomach produce to destroy microorganisms?
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid.
147
What is the primary function of white blood cells in specific defences?
White blood cells of the immune system respond to pathogens that have entered the body.
148
What is phagocytosis?
Phagocytosis is the process of engulfing foreign cells and digesting them.
149
What are antitoxins?
Antitoxins counteract the toxins produced by invading bacteria.
150
What role do antibodies play in the immune response?
Antibodies target specific antigens and flag foreign cells for destruction.
151
What are antigens?
Antigens are unique surface proteins found on each type of pathogen.
152
What do lymphocytes produce?
Lymphocytes produce chemicals called antibodies.
153
What happens when a person is infected with the same pathogen again?
White blood cells produce antibodies that rapidly kill the pathogen.
154
What does it mean to be immune to a pathogen?
It means the pathogen is quickly destroyed without the person becoming ill.
155
What is the function of the cellulose cell wall in plants?
Strengthens plant cells and resists invasion by microorganisms
## Footnote
Damage from aphids can breach this barrier, allowing pathogens to enter.
156
How does the tough waxy cuticle on leaves contribute to plant defense?
Acts as a barrier to entry for pathogens, allowing access only at the stomata
## Footnote
This limits pathogen invasion to specific points.
157
What role does bark play in plant defense?
Forms a protective layer that is hard for pathogens to penetrate
## Footnote
When the layer falls off, pathogens fall with it.
158
What happens to pathogens when leaves fall off a tree?
Pathogens that infect the leaves fall off the tree with them
## Footnote
This is a natural defense mechanism.
159
What type of chemicals do plants produce to defend against pathogens?
Antibacterial chemicals
## Footnote
These are very effective at preventing bacterial diseases.
160
How are plant chemicals used in medicine?
Extracted and adapted as antibiotics for human pathogens
## Footnote
Current antibiotics have become less effective, leading to increased interest in plant chemicals.
161
Give examples of plants used as mild antiseptics in cosmetics.
Mint and witch hazel
## Footnote
These plants have beneficial properties for skin care.
162
What types of defenses do plants have against herbivores?
Chemical and mechanical defenses
## Footnote
Both types help protect plants from being eaten.
163
What is one chemical defense plants use against herbivores?
Poison
## Footnote
It deters herbivores, who learn to avoid plants that make them feel unwell.
164
What is the purpose of thorns on plants?
To make it unpleasant or painful for large herbivores to eat them
## Footnote
Thorns are less effective against insects.
165
How do hairy stems and leaves help plants?
Deter insects and larger animals from feeding or laying eggs on them
## Footnote
Some plants combine hair with poisons for added defense.
166
What is the significance of a plant drooping or curling when touched?
It dislodges insects and frightens larger animals
## Footnote
This is an effective adaptation for defense.
167
What is mimicry in plant defense?
Plants mimic unhealthy plants to trick animals into not eating them
## Footnote
Some even mimic butterfly eggs to prevent real butterflies from laying eggs.
168
What are aphids and how do they affect plants?
Aphids are plant pests with sharp mouthparts that penetrate the phloem vessels of the plant and feed on the sugar-rich phloem sap. They attack in huge numbers, depriving plant cells of photosynthesis products, which seriously damages and weakens the plant.
## Footnote
Aphids also act as vectors, transferring viruses, bacteria, and fungi from diseased plants to healthy plants.
169
How can aphid populations be controlled?
Aphid populations can be controlled by:
* Chemical pesticides
* Biological pest control in enclosed spaces
* Releasing aphid-eating insects
## Footnote
These methods help prevent the impact of aphids on crop success.
170
What impact do soil-dwelling plant pests have on plants?
Soil-dwelling plant pests feed on plant roots, damaging their ability to absorb water and mineral ions effectively, which prevents the plant from growing and thriving.
## Footnote
This damage can severely affect the overall health and yield of the plant.
171
What are mineral deficiency diseases in plants?
Mineral deficiency diseases are non-communicable diseases caused by a lack of essential mineral ions in the soil.
## Footnote
Examples include nitrate deficiency leading to limited protein growth and magnesium deficiency causing chlorosis.
172
What role do nitrate ions play in plant growth?
Nitrate ions are needed to convert sugars made in photosynthesis into proteins necessary for growth in protein synthesis.
## Footnote
A deficiency in nitrate leads to stunted growth and poor crop production.
173
What happens to plants with insufficient magnesium ions?
Plants with insufficient magnesium ions cannot produce enough chlorophyll, leading to yellowing leaves (chlorosis) and slowed growth due to inadequate photosynthesis.
## Footnote
Chlorophyll is essential for the process of photosynthesis.
174
What can be done if mineral deficiencies are detected in plants?
If missing mineral ions are replaced using fertilizers quickly, the damage can be undone and the plant can recover. If not addressed, the plant may die.
## Footnote
Timely intervention is crucial for plant recovery.
175
Why is early detection of plant diseases important?
The sooner a disease is detected, the more likely it is that it can be treated effectively and the spread of disease can be reduced.
## Footnote
Early intervention is key to managing plant health.
176
List some symptoms of disease in plants.
Symptoms of disease in plants include:
* Stunted growth
* Spots on leaves/discolouration
* Areas of decay or rotting
* Growths
* Malformed stems and leaves
* Presence of visible pests
## Footnote
Many diseases exhibit similar symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
177
What methods can be used to diagnose plant diseases?
To diagnose plant diseases, one can:
* Observe symptoms
* Use the internet to identify causes
* Take samples of diseased materials for pathogen identification
## Footnote
Monoclonal antibodies are used in testing kits to identify specific plant pathogens.
178
True or False: Some plant diseases cannot be treated and require the removal of the diseased plant.
True
## Footnote
Removing diseased plants helps prevent the spread of pathogens to healthy plants.
179
How are communicable diseases caused?
Directly by a pathogen or by a toxin made by a pathogen
