Infectious Disease Flashcards
What is a pathogen
a disease causing organism
What 2 kingdoms are pathogens
some bacteria and all viruses
What are the modes of transmission
respiratory droplets, faecal-oral (food and water-borne), insect vector, breaks in the skin, sexual transmission
What is an example of respiratory droplets
e.g. influenza, TB
What is an example of faecal-oral
e.g. salmonella, food poisoning, polio, typhoid and cholera
What is an example of insect vector
e.g. malaria
What is an example of breaks in the skin
e.g. HIV through needle punctures
What is an example of sexual transmission
STDs e.g., HIV
How do viruses cause disease
by killing the cells in which they multiply
How do bacteria pathogens cause disease
due to the production of toxins
How has the percentage of deaths due to infectious disease decreased largely
the discovery of antibiotics and development of vaccines
