Infection and Response Flashcards
what are non communicable and communicable diseases?
communicable diseases can be caught, non communicable diseases (e.g cancer) cannot be caught and are developed.
How can diseases interact with each other?
People with defects in their immune system can catch infectious diseases easier. Severe physical illness can lead to mental illnesses and even depression. Viruses in living cells can be a trigger for cancer.
Features of bacteria, What combats them? What do they do once inside the body? Examples and optimal temp?
living cells (some are harmless), grow very quickly, they are effected by antibiotics. E.g food poisoning, sore throughs and tetanus. Body temperature is optimal, 37 degrees roughly.
Features of viruses, what combats them? What do they do once inside the body?
Reproduce their genetic material, they are not effected by antibiotics, usually dealt with by vaccines, they release toxins. E.g flu, chicken pox, COVID-19, polio.
How are pathogens spread?
Food and water, direct and indirect contact, insect bites and airborne droplets
What is natural immunity?
When you produce the antibodies when you need them (aka when you get a virus and you beat it) or when you get it passed on during pregnancy.
What is artificial immunity, AKA what two types of vaccination processes are there and what are they called?
One way is by injecting a dead pathogen into your body, which “tricks” your body into producing the antibodies to combat the pathogen, this is called PASSIVE IMMUNITY. The second way is by injecting the antibodies directly into your body, this is called ACTIVE IMMUNITY.
What is salmonella, how is it transmitted and what are its side effects?
Salmonella is spread when food is prepared in unhygienic conditions, chickens are vaccinated to help prevent the spread of salmonella.
What is Gonorrhoea, how is it transmitted and what are its side effects? How is it treated? How is the spread controlled?
Gonorrhoea is a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), it’s symptoms are a thick yellow discharge from the penis or vagina and pain when urinating. It is treated with antibiotics (because its a bacterial disease) and the spread can be controlled with a use of a condom when having sexual intercourse.
What are the two main issues with Antibiotics?
One issue is that it does not treat viral diseases, another issue is that it must be used sparingly because the bacteria can grow to be immune to the antibiotics, this means that you should strictly take the pills given to you and follow the routine and dosage the doctor has prescribed.
What are painkillers and why are they used? Name a few.
They are not used to kill the pathogen/bacteria, but instead are used to relieve the symptoms. Some pain killers are paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen.
Name some of the stages that are went through when researching new medicines (five stages, including placebos).
Stage One: Is it toxic? Preclinical tests are done on cells.
Stage Two: Is it safe on animals? (these are still preclinical trails)
Stage Three: Is it safe for humans? Tests are done on healthy human volunteers in low doses at first before finding the optimum dose.
Stage Four: Placebos, some patients are given the drug while others are not given anything, but are told they are which tricks their brain into feeling a certain way.
Stage Five: Double Placebos, Neither the doctor or the patients are aware of who took the real drug and who did not, this is to confirm the results and to make sure the doctors did not fake the results or to confirm any errors.
Coronary heart disease
In coronary heart disease:
Fat builds up in the coronary arteries therefore narrowing the veins, this means an overall less amount of blood flow going to the the heart, to avoid them closing up and causing a heart attack stents are usually used to keep the artery open and allow the blood to flow.
What are statins used for
they are drugs which lower the cholesterol in the blood leading to a slower rate of fatty build up in the coronary arteries.
However, could lead to issues with the liver.
What are stents used for?
They are used to keep the coronary arteries open.
It can only be used on certain parts of the arteries and does not cure it.
