Diseases

Question 1

What is a disease?

Answer 1

any condition that disturbs the normal functioning of cells, tissues or organs and leads to poor health.

Question 2

Why is it important to understand types, causes, methods of transmission and methods of treating different diseases?

Answer 2

Economies of the Caribbean depend highly upon a healthy population and workforce. Societies depend on healthy individuals, families and communities for sustainability. The impact of compromised health is felt both in increased health service costs for treating avoidable illness and in the decline of productivity, loss of employability etc.

Question 3

Give another name for infectious diseases?

Answer 3

Communicable diseases

Question 4

What are communicable diseases?

Answer 4

diseases that can be passed from one person to another. They are caused by microscopic organisms called pathogens.

Question 5

Give examples of pathogens

Answer 5

bacterium, virus, fungus, protozoan

Question 6

What are the four main types of diseases?

Answer 6

hereditary, pathogenic, deficiency and physiological diseases

Question 7

What are pathogenic diseases?

Answer 7

Communicable diseases which are caused by microscopic organisms known as pathogens. Pathogenic diseases are infectious because they can be passed down from one person to another.

Question 8

Examples of pathogenic diseases which are caused by viruses?

Answer 8

AIDS, common cold, yellow fever, influenza, dengue

Question 9

Examples of pathogenic diseases which are caused by bacteria?

Answer 9

Gonorrhoea, syphilis, tuberculosis and cholera

Question 10

Examples of pathogenic diseases which are caused by fungi?

Answer 10

athlete’s foot, thrush and ringworm

Question 11

Examples of pathogenic diseases which are caused by protozoans?

Answer 11

malaria, amoebic dysentery and sleeping sickness

Question 12

What are deficiency diseases?

Answer 12

non communicable diseases which are cause by the shortage or lack of a certain nutrient in the diet. The lack of these nutrients cause poor diet which can deprive the body of vitamins and other essential substances.

Question 13

Give examples of deficiency diseases and their causes?

Answer 13

Night blindness / Xerophthalmia- inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A

Anaemia - inadequate iron intake or poor absorption (vitamin b***)

Scurvy - lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet

Rickets in children & Osteomalacia in adults - inadequate sunlight exposure or insufficient dietary vitamin D

Kwashiorkor - inadequate protein intake

Goiter/Hypothyrodism - insufficient dietary iodine

Question 14

Symptoms of scurvy?

Answer 14

fatigue, swollen and bleeding gums, joint pain, anemia and skin rashes

Question 15

How to treat scurvy?

Answer 15

it can be easily treated by adding vitamin C into your diet. One way of doing that is by eating citrus fruits. You can also take vitamin C supplements. It is also recommended that you take 1g to 2g of vitamin C for the first 2-3 days then an intake of 500mg for the next week. Afterwards take 100mg of Vitamin C for the next 1-3 months daily.

Question 16

Why is iron essential to the body?

Answer 16

iron is essential for hemoglobin production which carries oxygen in red blood cells. Iron deficiency leads to a decreased capacity to transport oxygen, resulting in anemia.

Question 17

Why is vitamin C essential to the body?

Answer 17

it is crucial for collagen synthesis, wound healing, and maintaining the integrity of blood vessels. Without it, connective tissues weaken, leading to the symptoms of scurvy

Question 18

Symptoms of anaemia?

Answer 18

fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and impaired cognitive function

Question 19

Treatment for anaemia?

Answer 19

iron supplements such as iron pills or foods rich in iron can boost the low levels of iron in your body. You will need to monitor your iron levels for 3-6 months to check if it has returned to normal. If your iron deficiency is severe you might need a blood transfusion to replace iron and hemoglobin

Question 20

Why does the body need Vitamin D?

Answer 20

it is crucial for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Deficiency leads to impaired bone development in children and softening of bones in adults.

Question 21

Symptoms of rickets?

Answer 21

soft and weak bones, delayed growth, skeletal deformities

Question 22

symptoms of osteomalacia?

Answer 22

bone pain, muscle weakness, difficulty walking

Question 23

How to treat rickets/osteomalacia?

Answer 23

rickets can be treated by increasing the child’s intake of vitamin D and calcium. It is important to follow supplement and food intake directions from a physician as too much dosage of medication can be harmful.

osteomalacia is treated the same way. It is also suggested that you increase physical activity and use crutches or canes for support, go to physical therapy, and take medication for pain relief.

Question 24

Symptoms of goiter/hypothyroidism?

Answer 24

enlarged thyroid gland, fatigue, weight gain and cognitive impairment.

Question 25

Why is iodine essential to the body?

Answer 25

Iodine is a crucial component of thyroid hormones. Its deficiency disrupts thyroid function, leading to the enlargement of the thyroid gland, and, in severe cases, hypothyroidism

Question 26

How to treat goiter/hypothyroidism?

Answer 26

Take iodine supplements like levothyroxine which is used to treat hypothyroidism. Eat more foods containing iodine like seafood and dairy products. Eating iodized salt is also an effective method in treating this deficiency.

Question 27

Symptoms of Night Blindness / Xerophthalmia

Answer 27

impaired vision in low light conditions

dryness, ulceration and blindness due to damage to the cornea

Question 28

Why is Vitamin A essential to the body?

Answer 28

it is essential for maintaining vision, immune function, and skin health. Its deficiency can lead to vision problems and increased susceptibility to infections.

Question 29

How to treat night blindness / xerophthalmia?

Answer 29

it is recommended to be treated with high dose of vitamin A supplements for several days after which they’ll lower your dosage until the vision and skin is restored. You can eat foods like leafy greens, orange & yellow vegetables, fortified foods and fish oils.

Question 30

symptoms of kwashiorkor?

Answer 30

loss of muscle mass, diarrhea, failure to grow or gain weight, swelling of the ankles, feet and belly, damaged immune system and irritability

Question 31

Why is protein essential to the body?

Answer 31

Proteins are made up of chemical ‘building blocks’ called amino acids. Your body uses amino acids to build and repair muscles and bones and to make hormones and enzymes. They can also be used as an energy source.

Question 32

How to treat kwashiorkor?

Answer 32

get more calories and protein in your diet. You can first be given calories in the form of carbohydrates, sugars, and fats. Once these calories provide enrgy you can be given foods with protein

Question 33

What are hereditary diseases?

Answer 33

an abnormal gene passed on from one generation to the next. It is a non communicable inherited defect that prevents an organ or tissue from working properly

Question 34

Examples of hereditary diseases?

Answer 34

albinism, hemochromatosis, down syndrome, sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntingdon’s disease, dwarfism and haemophilia

Question 35

What is a physiological disease?

Answer 35

a non communicable disease which causes the malfunctioning of a body organ or a change in the structure of certain body cells over time causing them not to function properly.

Question 36

examples of physiological diseases?

Answer 36

diabetes, hypertension, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease

Question 37

Cause and examples of cancer diseases?

Answer 37

occurs when the cell division runs out of control and a cancerous growth/tumor develops

eg; lung cancer, leukaemia, skin cancer

Question 38

Cause and examples of degenerative diseases?

Answer 38

occurs when organs and tissues are damaged or worn out by ‘wear and tear’

eg; heart attacks, arthritis, hypertension

Question 39

Cause and examples of metabolic diseases?

Answer 39

defect that prevents an organ or tissue from working properly

eg; diabetes (islets of Langerhans)

Question 40

Cause and examples of psychological diseases?

Answer 40

mental illness caused by imbalances in, or damage to the brain

eg; depression, paranoia, schizophrenia

Question 41

Four categories of physiological diseases?

Answer 41

cancer, degenerative, metabolic and psychological