Infectious disease Flashcards
Who was Ignaz Semmelweis?
He was the first doctor to realise that washing hands helps prevent the spread of disease
What is a pathogen?
Any microorganisms that causes an infectious disease
How do bacteria make us ill?
Bacteria reproduce rapidly inside out bodies and produce toxins (poisons) that make us ill
How do viruses make us ill?
Viruses reproduce inside our cells, destroying them
What type of drug would you take to relieve the painful symptoms of an infection?
Painkillers such as paracetamol or codeine
What type of infection can antibiotics be used to treat?
A bacterial infection. They will NOT work on viral infections
What is meant by antibiotic resistance?
Many strains of bacteria have developed resistance to various antibiotics. This resistance has developed as a result of chance (spontaneous) mutation and natural selection
Name 2 types of white blood cells
Phagocytes and Lymphocytes
How do phagocytes protect the body from pathogens?
They ingest (engulf) the pathogens
How do lymphocytes protect the body from pathogens?
They produce antibodies and antitoxins
What is an antibody?
A protein produced by white blood cells that lock onto and destroy specific pathogens
What is an antigen?
A protein with a specific shape on the surface of a pathogen. The right shaped antibody will fit the antigen and destroy the pathogen
What does a vaccination contain?
A dead or weakened version of a pathogen
What is an epidemic?
A situation where a disease has spread across several countries
What is a pandemic?
A situation where a disease has spread across several continents
