Medical Science 9 Flashcards
What causes an infectious disease?
Pathogen
What causes a non-infectious disease?
Bad nutrition, aging, genetics, mental health disorders, chemical deficiencies, environmental disease
Define a disease
A disorder of structure or function in an organism
Define a pathogen
Anything that causes an infectious disease
Define a virus
A nucleic acid in a protein coat that is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host
Define a bacteria
Unicellular organism with a cell wall but no nucleus
Define a fungus
Unicellular or multicellular organism with a cell wall and nucleus but no chloroplasts
Define a host
An animal or plant that nourishes a parasite
Define a symptom
Outward evidence of a disease
Define transmission
the transfer of a pathogen from one host to another
Define a vector
A carrier organism that transfers a pathogen from one host to another host of the same species
Define a fomite
A non-living object that can transfer a pathogen from one host to another of the same species
Define an antiobiotic
A medicine that slows the growth or destroys bacteria
Define an inflammatory response
The body’s response to tissue injury in order to remove the cause, clear away dead cells and initiate tissue repair; characterised by pain, redness, swelling, warmth, and loss of function
Define a phagocyte
Type of cell in the immune system capable of engulfing another cell
Define an antigen
A chemical, usually a protein, cpabale of triggering the immmune response, especially the production of an anitbody
Define an antibody
A specific protein that binds to a sepcific antigen that neutralises the antigen and leads to it’s destruction
Define a vaccination
Preventative treatment with an altered antigen in order to produce immunity against a disease
Define an endemic
Disease is always present at a constant level in a partcular place (e.g. chicken pox)
Define an epidemic
A sudden increase in the level of infection in a particular place (e.g. common cold)
Define a pandemic
An epidemic that has spread across a large area, like countires and continents (e.g. COVID-19)
Define an outbreak
The sudden occurence of a disease in a community or in a certain area in greater numbers than expected
Define a risk factor
Any characteristic of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease
list all 6 types of pathogens
- parasites (tapeworm)
- protozoa (malaria)
- fungi (athletes foot)
- prokaryote (leprosy)
- virus (AIDS)
- prion (CJD)
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, method of transmission and treatments for Poliomyelitis
Pathogen - Polio virus
Symptoms and signs - paralysis, fatigue, fever, muscle weakness, nausea
Transmission - Contact (saliva) and faeces
Treatment - pain relievers, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, method of transmission and treatments for Helicobacter plyori infection
Pathogen - Carcinogen bacteria (prokaryote)
Symptoms and Signs - an ache or burning in the stomach, loss of apetite, bloating, weight loss
Transmission - contact (saliva or vomit) and faeces
Treatment - a combination of antibiotics
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, method of transmission and treatments for oral thrush
Pathogen - candidiasisis fungi
Symptoms and Signs - creamy white lesions on the tounge, inner cheek, roof of mouth, gums or tonsils
Transmission - contact (saliva) and contaminated food
Treatment - anti-fungal medication
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, method of transmission and treatments for malaria
Pathogen - plasmodium protozoa
Symptoms and Signs - chills, fever, pain in the abdomen or muscles, shivering, sweating, mental confusion
Transmission - the bite of an infected female mosquito, blood and tissues
Treatment - chloroquine
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, method of transmission and treatments for head lice
Pathogen - macroparasite
Symptoms and Signs - itching scalp, visible lice, lice eggs on hair
Transmission - contact (hair)
Treatment - medicated shampoos for combing and removing lice
List 8 physical and chemical barriers
- mucus traps pathogens and dust and produces antibodies (c & p)
- nose hair traps pathogens and larger particles (p)
- cilia beats out pathogens (p)
- sebaceous glands secrete acid that kills bacteria and pathogens & skin is physical barrier (c & p)
- stomach acid kills pathogens on food (c)
- intestinal fauna keeps good bacteria that destroy bad bacteria (c)
- bladder frequent urination prevents bacteria buildup (p)
- duodenum changes pH to destroy pathogens (c)
Describe the steps of the inflammatory response
- pathogens/bacteria enter the body
- mast cells are activated and produce histamines
- histamines cause vasodilation to increase the blood flow to bring more phagocytes
- Permeability of the blood vessels increase which allows the phagocytes to enter the tissue fluid causing redness and heat
Describe the steps of phagocytosis
- phagocyte recognises the pathogen as foreign
- bacteria is engulfed and stored in phagosome
- lysosome releases digestive enzymes into the phagosome
- enzymes digest the bacteria and rip it to pieces
- remains of the bacteria are removed by exocytosis
What is this process?
Phagocytosis
What are the types of B Lymphocytes?
Plasma B cell and Memory B cell
What do plasma B cells do?
They produce antibodies that are specific to an antigen and prevent pathogens from entering cells & causes them to clump together (neutralises pathogens)
What do Memory B cells do?
They remember the antigen on the pathogen and release specific antibodies so that next time it can be destroyed before you’re sick
What are the types of T Lymphocytes?
Helper T cells, Cytotoxic T cells, and Memory T cells
What do helper T cells do?
alert the immune system of infection by releasing cytokines
What do Cytotoxic T cells do?
kill/destroy infected cells by releasing chemicals that cause the cell to lysis
What is lysis?
The breaking down of the membrane of a cell
What are the lines of defence in order?
- physical and chemical barriers
- inflammatory response and phagocytosis
- the immune response
Outline the steps of how a vaccine works
- you are injected with a small amount of dead or inactive pathogens
- Helper T cells signal the immune system of antigens by releasing cytokines
- Plasma B cells detect the pathogen and release antibodies specific to the pathogen that destroys it
- Your body produces memory B and T cells
- Your body now knows how to destroy the pathogen before you get sick
Why did the first polio vaccine cause problems?
One batch was made incorrectly causing people to get sick/die
Describe how each polio vaccine was made
The first one was made by inactivating the polio virus with the chemical formaldehyde. The second was made using weakened viruses.
Outline the pathogen, symptoms and signs, transmission and treatment for COVID-19
Pathogen - SARS-CoV-2 (virus)
Signs and symptoms - cough, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing, loss of taste/smell
Transmission - Contact (bodily fluids) and air
Treatment - Self care, but vaccine can prevent
Outline the Cause/Risk Factors, Symptoms and Signs, and Prevention/Treatment for coronary heart disease
Cause/Risk factor - Obesity, smoking, alcohol/drugs, high cholesterol, genetics
Symtoms and signs - Pain in the left side of the chest, indigestion, nausea, fast heart rate, shortness of breath
Prevention/treatment - Having a balanced diet, stopping substance abuse, exercise more, medication, angioplasty
Outline the Cause/Risk Factors, Symptoms and Signs, and Prevention/Treatment for Mesothelioma
Cause/Risk factor - Asbestos exposure
Symtoms and signs - Pain in the chest or ribs, fatigue, night sweats, coughing, shortness of breath
Prevention/treatment - Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, staying away from asbestos
Outline the Cause/Risk Factors, Symptoms and Signs, and Prevention/Treatment for Depression
Cause/Risk factor - Genetics, drug/alcohol use, stressful events, illness, loneliness, personality, giving birth
Symtoms and signs - Anxiety, intense sadness, apathy, not enough or excess sleep, mood swings, irritability, lack of or excess hunger
Prevention/treatment - Medication, therapy, being social, reaching out to trusted people, stopping substance abuse
Outline the Cause/Risk Factors, Symptoms and Signs, and Prevention/Treatment for Obesity
Cause/Risk factor - Unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, genetics, smoking, medication, alcohol
Symtoms and signs - Pain in the back or joints, overweight, binge eating, fatigue, pot belly
Prevention/treatment - Having a balanced diet, stopping substance abuse, exercise more, diet, exercise
What is a neutrophil?
A phagocyte that works in blood circulation
What is a macrophage?
A phagocyte which works in tissue
Label the pathogens from left to right
Parasite, protozoa, fungi, prokaryote, virus, prion
What do Memory T cells do?
They remember the antigen in order to start the immune response faster
