B6: preventing & treating disease

• What is the primary purpose of vaccinations?


  To save millions of lives worldwide each year
• Why do levels of antibodies not stay in the blood forever?

  Immunity is the ability of white blood cells to produce antibodies quickly
• What is herd immunity?

  • A large proportion of the population is immune to a disease
  • Reduces the spread of the pathogen
  • Can lead to the disease disappearing
• What happens if the number of people taking up a vaccine falls?

  Herd immunity is lost and the disease can reappear
• What happened in the UK in the 1970s regarding the whooping cough vaccine?

  Vaccination rates fell from over 80% to around 30%
• What was the consequence of the drop in whooping cough vaccination rates?

  Thousands of children got whooping cough again and many died
• What is the World Health Organisation's goal for measles vaccination?

  95% of children to have two doses of measles vaccine
• What are the current global figures for measles vaccination?

  85% of children get the first dose and 50% get the second
• What are the advantages of achieving global herd immunity?

  • Protects individuals from diseases
  • Reduces disease spread in populations
  • Benefits global economies
• What is an antigen?

  A substance that triggers an immune response
• What is an antibody?

  A protein produced by the immune system to neutralize pathogens
• Give an example of a bacterial disease that can be immunized against.

  Whooping cough
• Give an example of a viral disease that can be immunized against.

  Measles
• How does the immune system work when a pathogen enters the body?

  • The immune system tries to destroy the pathogen
  • White blood cells are activated
  • Antibodies are produced to neutralize the pathogen
• How do vaccines utilize the natural immune system?

  • Introduce small amounts of dead or inactive pathogens
  • Stimulate white blood cells to produce antibodies
  • Prepare the immune system for future infections
• Why can vaccines be used against both bacterial and viral diseases?

  Vaccines stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight both types of pathogens
• What is the relationship between vaccination and the spread of pathogens?

  • Vaccination reduces the spread of pathogens
  • A large proportion of immunity in the population is necessary
  • Loss of vaccination uptake can lead to disease resurgence
• What are the learning objectives of the topic on antibiotics and painkillers?

  To understand what medicines are, how they work, and the uses of antibiotics.
• How do painkillers and other medicines treat disease symptoms?

  They relieve symptoms but do not kill pathogens.
• What happens when you take medicines for an infectious disease?

  The medicine eases symptoms but does not affect the pathogen.
• What are examples of useful painkillers mentioned in the text?

  Aspirin and paracetamol.
• What is the effect of painkillers like aspirin and paracetamol on viral infections?

  They relieve symptoms but do not affect the viruses.
• Why do many medicines not cure you faster when you have an infection?

  Because they do not kill the pathogens, you must wait for your immune system to overcome them.
• What are antibiotics used for?

  To cure bacterial diseases by killing bacterial pathogens.
• How do antibiotics differ from antiseptics and disinfectants?

  Antibiotics work inside the body, while antiseptics and disinfectants kill bacteria outside the body.
• When did antibiotics first become widely available?

  In the 1940s.
• What was the impact of antibiotics on maternal deaths after childbirth?

  The number of women who died from infections after childbirth dropped dramatically.
• How do antibiotics like penicillin work?

  They kill bacteria without harming human cells.
• Why is it important to choose the right antibiotic for treatment?

  Because specific bacteria should be treated with the specific antibiotic that is effective against them.
• What is a limitation of antibiotics regarding viral infections?

  Antibiotics cannot kill viral pathogens.
• Why is it difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses?

  Because viruses reproduce inside body cells, making it hard to target them without harming the cells.
• What is a major concern regarding bacteria and antibiotics?

  Strains of bacteria resistant to antibiotics are evolving.
• What could happen if new antibiotics are not discovered soon?

  Many millions of people may die from bacterial diseases that are currently curable.
• What are the key points regarding antibiotics and painkillers?

  • Painkillers treat symptoms but do not kill pathogens.
  • Antibiotics cure bacterial diseases by killing pathogens inside the body.
  • Antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths from infectious diseases.
  • Emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a major concern.
  • Antibiotics do not destroy viruses due to their reproduction inside cells.
• Why is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria a cause for concern?

  It limits the effectiveness of antibiotics, making bacterial diseases harder to treat.
• What are some traditional sources of drugs?

  • Plants
  • Microorganisms (e.g., moulds)
• How do scientists enhance drug effectiveness today?

  Scientists add chemicals from microorganisms, plants, and animals to make more effective drugs.
• What are some drugs derived from plants mentioned in the material?

  • Digitalis
  • Digoxin
  • Aspirin
• What is the purpose of digitalis and digoxin?

  They are used to help strengthen the heartbeat.
• What is the origin of aspirin?

  Aspirin originates from a compound found in the bark of willow trees.