Unit 7 Communicable Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections Flashcards
(24 cards)
discuss the controllable risk factors for communicable diseases.
Controllable Risk Factors:
- Hygiene Practices: Proper handwashing, sanitation, and personal hygiene reduce the transmission of germs.
- Vaccination: Immunization helps prevent the spread of many communicable diseases.
- Safe Sex Practices: Using protection and practicing monogamy can reduce sexually transmitted infections.
- Isolation and Quarantine: Separating infected individuals helps prevent disease spread.
- Public Health Policies: Regulations and interventions like travel restrictions can limit outbreaks.
discuss the non-controllable risk factors for communicable diseases. keep it short
Non-Controllable Risk Factors:
- Genetics: Genetic susceptibility can influence an individual’s vulnerability to certain diseases.
- Age: Certain age groups, like the elderly and infants, are more prone to severe infections.
- Underlying Health Conditions: Chronic illnesses weaken the immune system and increase disease risk.
- Geography and Climate: Environmental factors affect the prevalence and transmission of diseases.
- Socioeconomic Status: Limited access to healthcare, crowded living conditions, and poverty can contribute to disease spread.
describe viruses and discuss the infectious diseases that they cause.
- Viruses are small infectious agents that require a host cell to reproduce.
- They can cause diseases like the common cold, flu, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and hepatitis.
describe bacteria and discuss the infectious diseases that they cause.
- Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that can be found everywhere.
- They cause diseases such as tuberculosis, strep throat, cholera, and urinary tract infections.
describe fungi and discuss the infectious diseases that they cause.
- Fungi are organisms like yeasts and molds that thrive in certain conditions.
- They cause diseases like athlete’s foot, ringworm, candidiasis (yeast infection), and aspergillosis.
describe protozoa and discuss the infectious diseases that they cause.
- Protozoa are single-celled organisms that can live in water or host organisms.
- They cause diseases like malaria, amoebic dysentery, giardiasis, and sleeping sickness.
describe parasitic worms and discuss the infectious diseases that they cause.
- Parasitic worms are multicellular organisms that live in or on their hosts.
- They cause diseases such as tapeworm infections, roundworm infections, hookworm infections, and schistosomiasis.
explain how infectious diseases are transmitted.
- Direct Contact: Person-to-person contact, such as touching, kissing, or sexual intercourse.
- Indirect Contact: Via contaminated objects, surfaces, or air particles.
- Ingestion: Consuming contaminated food, water, or beverages.
- Inhalation: Breathing in infectious droplets or aerosols.
- Vector-Borne: Carried by insects or animals that spread the pathogens.
- Vertical Transmission: From mother to fetus during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
describe how the body protects itself from infection
The body’s immune system defends against infection by:
- Physical Barriers: Skin, mucous membranes, and cilia prevent pathogen entry.
- Inflammatory Response: White blood cells and chemicals combat invaders.
- Adaptive Immunity: Immune cells produce specific antibodies to target and remember pathogens.
discuss the purpose of immunization.
Immunization, or vaccination, stimulates immune responses without causing illness. It:
- Prevents Disease: Builds immunity against specific pathogens.
- Creates Herd Immunity: Protects vulnerable populations.
- Reduces Severity: Even if infection occurs, vaccinated individuals often experience milder symptoms.
describe antimicrobial resistance and its implications for health.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes, like bacteria and fungi, evolve to resist the effects of drugs designed to kill them. This leads to:
- Ineffective Treatments: Infections become harder to cure.
- Prolonged Illness: Longer recovery times and increased risk of complications.
- Limited Options: Fewer antibiotics available, impacting medical procedures.
- Increased Costs: Higher healthcare expenses due to extended treatments.
- Global Health Threat: AMR jeopardizes our ability to control infectious diseases.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as colds.
Colds (Common Cold):
- Causative Agent: Usually rhinoviruses.
- Symptoms: Runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, coughing.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as influenza
Influenza (Flu):
- Causative Agent: Influenza viruses.
- Symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, fatigue.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS):
- Causative Agent: SARS coronavirus.
- Symptoms: Fever, cough, difficulty breathing; can lead to severe pneumonia.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as meningitis
Meningitis:
- Causative Agents: Bacteria (e.g., Neisseria meningitidis) or viruses.
- Symptoms: Headache, stiff neck, fever; bacterial meningitis can be severe.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as hepatitis
Hepatitis:
- Causative Agents: Various hepatitis viruses (e.g., Hepatitis A, B, C).
- Symptoms: Jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain; severity varies by type.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as mononucleosis (mono)
Mononucleosis (Mono):
- Causative Agent: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
- Symptoms: Fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fever.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB):
- Causative Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Symptoms: Persistent cough, chest pain, weight loss, fever.
describe the key features of major infectious diseases such as West Nile virus
West Nile Virus:
- Causative Agent: West Nile virus (mosquito-borne).
- Symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches; some cases can lead to severe neurological effects.
describe the modes of transmission for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Modes of Transmission:
- Unprotected Sexual Contact: Most STIs spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
- Direct Contact: Skin-to-skin contact with infected areas can transmit some STIs.
- Shared Needles: For intravenous drug use, as with HIV.
- Mother-to-Child: During childbirth or breastfeeding (HIV).
describe the symptoms for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
Common Symptoms:
- Varied Symptoms: Some STIs may be asymptomatic, while others cause genital sores, discharge, pain, itching, or burning.
- Systemic Effects: Fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes can occur in HIV/AIDS.
describe the treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS
Treatments:
- Antibiotics and Antivirals: Many STIs are treatable with specific medications.
- HIV/AIDS: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress HIV, prolonging life and reducing transmission risk.
- Preventive Measures: Safe sex practices, regular testing, and partner communication.
describe vaginal and urinary tract infections.
Vaginal Infections:
- Types: Common types include yeast infections (Candidiasis) and bacterial vaginosis.
- Symptoms: Itching, abnormal discharge, irritation, discomfort.
- Causes: Imbalance of vaginal flora, poor hygiene, certain medications.
- Treatment: Antifungal creams/pills for yeast infections; antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs):
- Types: Usually involve the bladder (cystitis) or kidneys (pyelonephritis).
- Symptoms: Burning sensation during urination, frequent urge to urinate, cloudy/pink urine.
- Causes: Bacteria entering the urinary tract.
- Treatment: Antibiotics; increased fluid intake; good hygiene practices
