Topic 5 Health & Disease: Communicable & Non-communicable diseases, types of pathogen, examples of common infections, How pathogens are spread including STI's

Question 1

What are Pathogens?

Answer 1

Pathogens are disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi or protists.

Question 2

What is Health?

Answer 2

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease (defined by the world health organisation)

Question 3

What are communicable diseases?

Answer 3

They can be transferred from one person to another, or one organism to another. For example, measels, food poisoning and malaria.

Question 4

What are Non-communicable diseases?

Answer 4

They are not transferred between organisms or people.

Question 5

Describe what happens when different types of diseases interact

Answer 5

The presence of one disease can lead to a higher chance of developing another disease. For example, defects in the immune system means that an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases e.g. HIV which leads to AIDS, affect the immune system and lead to an increase in susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Question 6

Give examples of how the presence of one disease can lead to a higher chance of developing another

Answer 6

Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers. For instance, the majority of cases of cervix cancer are linked with a virus present in the female reproductive system. Also, the reaction of the immune system to pathogens and other bodies can trigger allergic reactions.

Question 7

What are the 4 main types of Pathogens?

Answer 7

Viruses e.g. HIV/AIDS
Bacteria e.g. salmonella
Fungi e.g. Athletes foot
Protists e.g. Malaria

Question 8

What is the lifecycle of pathogens?

Answer 8

they infect a host, reproduce themselves or replicate, spread from the host and infect other organisms. They also have structural adaptations which make them successful at completing their life cycles.

Question 9

What are example of Non-communicable diseases?

Answer 9

Deficiency diseases caused by a lack of essential vitamins or minerals.
Inherited genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis
Diseases like cancer that develop as a result of exposure to carcinogens or develop naturally as cell division occurs incorrectly

Question 10

What are the different ways of transmission (communicable diseases)

Answer 10

Direct contact , Water , Air , Unhygenic food preparation , vector (an organism that can spread a disease)