Hygiene

• What surrounds the human body and includes pathogens?

  Microorganisms
• What can be done to reduce the likelihood of pathogens entering the body?

  Measures such as maintaining personal hygiene can be taken
• What is personal hygiene?

  Practices carried out to maintain cleanliness and good grooming of the body
• Why is maintaining personal hygiene important?

  • Ensures good health
  • Prevents the spread of infections
  • Eliminates body odours
  • Prevents dental caries
  • Promotes social acceptance
• What happens when sweat evaporates from the skin?

  It leaves salts, urea, and dead skin cells on the surface
• What causes body odour (BO)?

  Bacteria feeding on substances left on the skin after sweating
• What measures should be taken to reduce body odour and infections?

  • Regular washing of the body
  • Regular washing of the hair
  • Drying the skin and hair thoroughly
  • Applying deodorant to clean, dry skin
  • Changing and washing clothing frequently
• How is genital hygiene maintained?

  • Thorough cleaning of the genitalia
  • Wiping from front to back in females
  • Male circumcision or washing the area with soap and water
• What practices are involved in maintaining hand hygiene?

  • Washing hands before meals
  • Washing hands after using the toilet
  • Keeping fingernails short and clean
• What is sterilisation?

  The complete destruction of all microorganisms in a specified region
• What are methods of sterilisation?

  • Ultra-high temperature treatment (UHT)
  • Pasteurisation
  • Canning
  • Autoclaving
  • Boiling
• What is ultra-high temperature treatment (UHT)?

  Heating food items to over 135 °C for 1-2 seconds
• What is pasteurisation used for?

  Killing most microorganisms in food and drinks while maintaining quality
• How does canning protect food from microorganisms?

  By sealing food in containers after boiling to kill microorganisms
• What is autoclaving?

  Using pressurised steam to kill microorganisms in liquids and instruments
• What is the boiling method of sterilisation?

  Boiling materials in water at 100 °C for 15-30 minutes
• What is disinfection?

  The use of chemicals to reduce microorganisms to a non-infectious level
• What are disinfectants and antiseptics?

  • Disinfectants: Chemicals for non-living objects (e.g., chlorine)
  • Antiseptics: Chemicals for living tissues (e.g., hydrogen peroxide)
• What are antibiotics used for?

  To kill bacteria or slow their growth
• What was the first antibiotic discovered?

  Penicillin
• What are antifungal agents used for?

  To treat fungal infections
• How does the immune system protect the body?

  By engulfing pathogens and producing antibodies
• What are lymphocytes responsible for?

  Producing antibodies
• What is an antibody?

  A specific protein produced by lymphocytes in response to an antigen
• What is an antigen?

  A substance recognized as foreign that stimulates antibody production
• What do antibodies do when they bind to antigens?

  They cause pathogens to clump together or disintegrate
• What are the types of immunity?

  • Innate immunity: Inborn ability to resist disease
  • Acquired immunity: Gained over time, not present at birth
• What is natural active immunity?

  • Acquired through exposure to a pathogenic disease
  • Body produces specific antibodies in response
• What is artificial active immunity?

  • Acquired through vaccination
  • Body produces specific antibodies in response to the antigen
• What is natural passive immunity?

  • Acquired by transfer of antibodies from mother to child
  • Provides short-term protection
• What is artificial passive immunity?

  • Acquired by injecting serum containing antibodies from another organism
  • Provides immediate but short-term relief
• What is immunisation?

  The process of making a person immune to an infectious disease
• What is the purpose of a vaccine?

  To stimulate the body to produce specific antibodies
• What happens when a person is vaccinated?

  The body produces memory cells for future protection against the pathogen
• What is the role of lymphocyte memory cells?

  To recognize antigens and produce antibodies quickly upon re-exposure
• What is the significance of antibodies disappearing from the blood after recovery?

  It indicates that the body no longer needs to fight the infection
• What is the difference between natural and artificial immunity?

  Natural immunity is gained through natural exposure, while artificial immunity is gained through deliberate introduction of antigens
• What is the role of antibodies in the immune response?

  They bind to antigens and help eliminate pathogens
• How do vaccines provide long-term protection?

  By stimulating the production of memory cells that respond to future infections
• What is the purpose of administering serum containing antibodies?

  To provide immediate but temporary relief from infection symptoms