Infectious disease - Prevention, treatment and control Flashcards
Factors effecting the spread of infectious disease
pathogen factors
societal factors
environmental/geographic factors
host factors
Active acquired immunity
immunity developed naturally or artificially through a person being exposed to a live pathogen and developing a primary immune response (antibodies).
Passive acquired immunity
Immunity developed when antibodies are not produced by their own body and are introduced into the body, without being exposed to a pathogen directly. (Provides immediate protection, however, is short-lived as memory cells are not produced).
Herd immunity
When majority of a population’s individuals are vaccinated, unvaccinated individuals are also protected as there are fewer hosts available for the disease to spread between.
Antivirals
USED FOR VIRUSES. Antivirals do not kill viruses but inhibit their growth in infected cells – used to control viral infections. They don’t cure the disease but slow down its progress, allowing the body’s natural defences to take over.
Antibiotics
USED FOR BACTERIA. Antibiotics are used to control bacterial infections, that work by either killing or slowing down the growth of bacteria. (They are not effective against viruses)
Effectiveness of antivirals
Effectiveness of antivirals are challenged by the high mutation rate of viruses which inevitably results in drug resistance.
Effectiveness of antibiotics
Due to the overuse of antibiotics, bacterial resistance (‘superbugs’) has become a major issue/challenge.
Epidemic and pandemic
Epidemic – An outbreak of an infectious disease within a defined geographical area that spreads at a rate above what is expected.
Pandemic – The spread of a new disease across a wider area, often worldwide.
Incidence
The number of new cases occurring during a specific time
Prevalence
The proportion of the population that have the disease at a particular point in time
The mobility of a population
Important when assessing the risk of disease – it is the movement within a region between states, and international travel.
Smoke bush
The bush medicine was used for healing by indigenous people. It was found to contain an active ingredient conocurovone, a compound which could destroy HIV/AIDS in low concentrations.
