Immunology + disease

Question 1

Endemic:-

Answer 1

Disease occurring freq at a predictable rate in a specific pop/location.

Question 2

Carrier:-

Answer 2

Infected person/org, showing no symptoms but able to infect others.

Question 3

Disease reservoir:-

Answer 3

Long term host of a patho w/ few/no symptoms. Always a potential outbreak source.

Question 4

Infection:-

Answer 4

A transmissible disease often acq by inhalation, ingestion or physical contact.

Question 5

Cholera cause:-

Answer 5

G-neg vibrio cholerae. Can only reproduce inside human host. Infection via contaminated food. Become carriers. Act as reservoir. Can contaminate other H2O supplies + spread.

Question 6

Cholera effect:-

Answer 6

Toxin produced by it in small intestine. Affects Cl channel proteins (CFTR). H2O and many ions inc. Cl-, Na+,K+ and HCO3- aren’t absorbed into blood. -> severe watery diarrhoea-> dehyd. Blood pressure dramatically falls, patient may die within hrs.

Question 7

Cholera prevention:-

Answer 7

Good hygiene + sanitation. Better sewage treatment, water purification, safe food handling and regular hand washing have all reduced incidence. Vaccine (temporary) available to people at v. high risk.

Question 8

Cholera treatment:-

Answer 8

Water + ions replaced orally or, in severe cases, intravenously (rehyd solution).
Bacteria treated w/ antibiotics.

Question 9

Pandemic:-

Answer 9

Epidemic over a v. wide area, crossing international boundaries, affecting a v. large no. of people.

Question 10

Antigen:-

Answer 10

A molecule that causes immune system to produce antibodies against it. Inc individual molecules and those on viruses, spores, bact or pollen grains. May be formed inside body. E.g bact toxins.