Viruses - diseases Flashcards
what are the 3 ways which viruses can spread?
atmosphere, water or vectors
How do viruses cause infectious diseases?
when they infect living cells and replicate in them
what is a very common virus?
HIV
what does HIV stand for?
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus
Explain what HIV does to your body:
When HIV enters the body it will start attacking your white blood cells making them incapable of creating antibodies which fight other diseases, so it destroys your immune system. This is bad because catching other diseases will kill you
Hows HIV spread?
It enters through open blood wounds or via body fluids
What are white blood cells also known as?
T4 lymphocytes
What is AIDS?
AIDS is when you have HIV and you catch another disease then we say that the person is suffering from AIDS
What does AIDS stand for
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
What are some symptoms of a person suffering from AIDS?
- Weight loss
- sweating
- TB
- pneumonia
- diarrhoea
How can HIV be transmitted?
- Blood transfusion
- Sexual intercourse
- Sharing needles
- Mother to child transmission during birth, virus enters foetus through placenta or by breast feeding
How can you avoid AIDS?
- don’t share needles
- use condom
- wear protective gear when attending to someone who’s bleeding
what are the 2 treatments for HIV/AIDS?
PEP and ART treatment
Explain what the PEP treatment entails:
This is a treatment only available to Health care professionals, people who have been exposed to the virus by accidents or rape. this treatment must start within 24 hours of exposure and be adhere to for 28 days
Explain what the ART treatment is:
Drugs given to HIV+ patients which inhibit the life cycle of the virus causing it to not reproduce so rapidly.
