Immunology Part 1 Flashcards
What is a disease?
Any condition which impairs the normal functioning of an organism
What are the two categories a disease can be split into?
Infectious or non-infectious
What is the study of disease known as?
Pathology
What are the 4 main types of disease?
Genetic, infectious, deficiency and physiological
What is epidemiology?
The study of the causes and effects of health and disease in a population
What is a pathogen?
An organism or agent which causes disease
What is an infectious disease caused by and how is it passed on?
It is caused by a pathogenic agent and is passed by one organism to another by direct or indirect contact
What is a non-infectious disease?
Not caused by a pathogen, generally of slow progression and include genetic, social or mental disorders
What are the main preventative measures against infectious disease?
Antibiotics, vaccines and good hygiene
What are the main preventative measures against non-infectious disease?
Healthy diet and good physical activity
What is cellulitis?
A curable infectious disease, which can be cured using antibiotics or penicillin
Which disease is the biggest killer in Australia compared to underdeveloped countries?
Coronary heart disease is the biggest killer in Australia, whereas HIV is the biggest killer in underdeveloped countries
Why is there a difference in which diseases kill the most between countries?
The quality of living conditions and healthcare systems is vastly superior in more developed nations, therefore people in underdeveloped nations do not live to older ages where heart and lung diseases come into play, instead dying out to diseases at a younger age as the risk of infection is very high
What do pathogens include?
Bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite
What is the normal interaction between humans and pathogens?
We come into contact with pathogens every day, most of the time our body’s immune system destroys them before they can cause harm
What are the three factors which determine whether an exposure to a pathogen results in infection?
Dose, virulence, host resistance
What is dose?
The amount of organisms that enter your body
What is virulence?
The strength of the organisms
What is host resistance?
The ability of your immune system to fight infection
What is a parasite?
An organism that lives on, or in, another living thing and derives food and shelter from it
Where do malaria parasites multiply?
In the red blood cell
