types of disease Flashcards
What is measles?
Measles is a serious viral disease that can
cause blindness and brain damage. The
main symptoms are a fever and a red skin
rash.
How is measles spread?
By air - through the inhalation of droplets
from coughs and sneezes.
What is HIV/AIDS?
HIV is a virus which attacks and damages the immune system until it can no longer function properly. AIDS is the condition resulting from a long-term HIV infection. There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
How is HIV spread?
Direct sexual contact and the exchange
of bodily fluids eg. blood, breastmilk, or by the use of infected needles
How can the spread of HIV/AIDS be prevented?
● Use of condoms ● Screening of blood for transfusions ● Not sharing needles ● Bottle-feeding by HIV-positive mothers ● Use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent the development of AIDS
What is tobacco mosaic virus?
A plant pathogen which causes leaf discolouration when cells are damaged. Affected areas cannot photosynthesise, reducing the crop yield. As there is no treatment, farmers grow TMV-resistant crop
strains to avoid infection.
How is tobacco mosaic virus spread?
Contact between infected and healthy plants. Insects may act as vectors which transfer the virus between different plants.
What is salmonella?
A type of bacteria found in raw meat, poultry and eggs. If they enter the body via food poisoning, they can affect natural gut
bacteria.
What are the symptoms of salmonella food
poisoning?
● Fever ● Abdominal cramping ● Vomiting ● Diarrhoea - May be fatal in very young or elderly populations due the risk of dehydration.
How can the spread of salmonella be limited?
● Vaccinating animals intended for consumption
● Keep raw meat away from cooked meat
● Disinfect hands and surfaces after contact with raw meat
● Thoroughly cook meat
What is gonorrhoea?
A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by unprotected sex with an infected individual.
- symptoms are yellow/green discharge from genitals
- painful urination
- Its spread can be controlled through the use of antibiotics (no longer penicillin as many strains are resistant) and using condoms.
What is rose black spot?
A fungal disease which causes purple or black spots to develop on rose leaves. It reduces the area of the leaf which is available for photosynthesis and causes leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely.
How is the rose black spot fungus spread?
Fungal spores are spread by the wind
and in water.
How can the rose black spot fungus be treated?
● Using fungicides
● Destroying infected leaves
What is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by protist pathogens.
- The disease is carried from host to host by mosquitoes
- The protists enter the human bloodstream when they feed.
- carried by mosquitos which are vectors for the disease
Symptoms include fever and shaking, and it may also be fatal in some cases.
