Communicable Diseases Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are pathogens ?
Microorganisms that cause infectious disease
What are examples of pathogens ?
Viruses
Bacteria
Protists
Fungi
How are communicable diseases spread ?
Direct contact
Water
Air
What can bacteria produce that damage tissues and make us feel ill ?
Toxins
What causes cell damage ?
When viruses live and reproduce inside cells
What are 3 viral diseases ?
Measles
HIV
Tobacco mosaic virus
What are 2 bacterial diseases ?
Salmonella Food poisoning
Gonorrhoea
What is 1 example of a fungal disease ?
Rose black spot
What is 1 example of a protist disease ?
Malaria
What are 4 human defence systems ?
Skin
Nose
Trachea and bronchi
Stomach
What are 3 things white blood cells do to help defend against pathogens ?
Phagocytosis
Antibody production
Antitoxin production
How do vaccinations work ?
Inject small quantities of dead or inactive pathogens into the body to stimulate the white blood cells to produce antibodies
How do antibodies like penicillin help cure bacterial diseases ?
Killing infective bacteria
What can’t antibiotics kill ?
Viral pathogens
What do painkillers do and what can they not do ?
Treat symptoms of disease
Don’t kill pathogens
What 3 traditional drugs were extracted from plants and microorganisms ?
Heart drug digitalis from foxgloves
Painkiller aspirin from willow
Penicillin from penicillium mould
What do people who take part in clinical trials have to be ?
Healthy
Is it a low or high does given at the start of the clinical trial ?
Low
If the drug is safe what happens ?
Further trials are carried out to find optimum dose for the drug
What are some patients given in a double blind trial ?
Placebo
