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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the definition of a disease?
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An abnormal, pathological condition - deviation from the normal structure and function of any body part, organ or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms
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What are the 2 main groups of parasites which cause disease?
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1. Micro–parasites
(e.g. virus/bacteria/fungi/protists) 2. Macro–parasites (e.g. worms/arthropods) |
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Besides parasites, what is the other way disease can be caused?
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Genetic mutation or environmental stress
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What is the definition of a pathogen?
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A biological agent which causes disease
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What are the 4 stages of disease development throughout human history?
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1. Hunter Gatherer Era
2. Agricultural Revolution 3. Industrial Revolution 4. Sanitary Awakening |
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How prominent was disease in the hunter-gatherer era and why?
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– Disease was not very prominent
1. People lived in small isolated bands 2. They had no permanent homes so they left faeces and disease behind 3. Band members were of equal social standing, meaning less stress, better health 4. There were fewer diseases around and they had lower virulence |
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In terms of disease, what 5 factors changed between the hunter-gatherer era and the agricultural revolution? What 5 pieces of evidence is there to support this?
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1. High density living
2. Animal domestication increases contacts leading to zoonoses 3. Food/water storages attracted disease vectors 4. Trading spread disease 5. People had low dietary variety Evidence: 1. Low life expectancy 2. Parasites were recorded as being more infectious 3. Water-borne diseases such as typhoid became prominent 4. Shortage of protein led to diseases such as Kwashiorkor 5. Dependency on agriculture meant environmental factors (e.g. droughts) led to disease and starvation |
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What 7 factors in the industrial revolution compounded the spread of disease?
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1. Even higher density of population
2. Heavy pollution 3. Skewed distribution of wealth leading to poor living conditions 4. Bedpans being emptied on sidewalks led to fecally transmitted disease 5. Water supplies contaminated with faecal matter 6. Fleas/lice were prominent vectors 7. Faster trade spread disease |
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What occurred during the sanitary awakening?
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1. Chadwick observed that poor living conditions caused most disease and was thus preventable
2. London health officer employed 3. Cholera changed the opinion of the rich 4. John Snow recognised water contamination as leading source of transmission (theory of contagion) 5. Aquaducts and public sewerage system + antimicrobials greatly reduced prevalence |
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How does vaccination work? What different trials on smallpox led to the development of its vaccinations?
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– Vaccinations activate the immune system without causing harmful disease
1. Scratch rituals for smallpox allowed low level exposure 2. Boylston inoculated people with live smallpox => most survived the epidemic 3. Jenner vaccinates with harmless cowpox |
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What are 5 present challenges, in terms of disease and biosecurity?
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1. Fast evolution of resistant strains
2. Even higher human density 3. Jet transport leads to instantaneous transmission 4. Low public awareness 5. Animal ecosystem destruction forces vectors out of natural habitat => more zoonoses |
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Why was the invention of the microscope important? |
Robert Hooke's invention of the microscope gave rise to our understanding of the microbial world, which lead to the idea that disease can be caused by these micro-organisms |
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What does Obligate mean? |
Cannot survive without a host (always parasitic) |
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What does Facultative mean? |
Has the option to survive without a host (sometimes a parasite) |
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Epidemic |
Sudden and severe outbreak of infection within a population/community/region |
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Pandemic |
An epidemic that spreads over a large geographical region, many continents or worldwide |
