Fighting Disease - Drugs Flashcards
Infection and Response (15 cards)
What are painkillers?
Drugs that relieve pain without addressing the cause of the disease or killing pathogens
Examples include aspirin
Do cold remedies cure colds?
No, they reduce symptoms without curing the cold
Cold remedies often only alleviate discomfort
How do antibiotics work?
They kill bacteria or prevent their growth without harming body cells
Different antibiotics target different types of bacteria
Can antibiotics kill viruses?
No, antibiotics do not destroy viruses like the flu or cold viruses
Viruses reproduce inside body cells, complicating treatment
What impact have antibiotics had on communicable diseases?
They have greatly reduced the number of deaths caused by bacterial diseases
Antibiotics are crucial for treating bacterial infections
What can happen to bacteria over time?
They can mutate and become resistant to antibiotics
This resistance makes infections harder to treat
What occurs when resistant bacteria survive treatment?
Only non-resistant bacteria are killed, allowing resistant strains to reproduce
This exemplifies natural selection
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a resistant strain that causes serious infections
It is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin
Why is it important to avoid over-prescribing antibiotics?
To slow down the development of resistant strains
Antibiotics should only be prescribed for serious infections
What should patients do with their antibiotic prescriptions?
Finish the entire course of antibiotics
Stopping early can contribute to resistance
Why do plants produce chemicals?
To defend themselves against pests and pathogens
Some of these chemicals can be used as drugs
What is an example of a drug derived from a plant?
Aspirin, developed from a chemical found in willow
Used as a painkiller and to lower fever
What is digitalis used for?
To treat heart conditions
It was developed from a chemical found in foxgloves
How was penicillin discovered?
By observing that mold on a petri dish killed surrounding bacteria
The mold was identified as Penicillium notatum
How are drugs synthesized today?
On a large scale in the pharmaceutical industry by chemists in labs
The process may start with a chemical extracted from a plant
