fighting disease - drugs

• What is the main purpose of painkillers like aspirin?

  They relieve pain symptoms
• How do painkillers like aspirin work?

  They help reduce symptoms but don't tackle causes
• What do other drugs do in relation to symptoms?

  They reduce symptoms without tackling the cause
• How do antibiotics like penicillin work?

  They kill or prevent the growth of bacteria
• How do antibiotics differ from painkillers in their action?

  Antibiotics kill bacteria, painkillers relieve symptoms
• Why is it important to treat bacterial infections with the right antibiotic?

  Different antibiotics target different bacteria types
• What do antibiotics not destroy?

  Viruses
• What is a consequence of antibiotic resistance?

  It makes infections harder to treat
• How can bacteria become resistant to antibiotics?

  Through mutation and selective pressure
• What happens when treating an infection with antibiotics?

  Only non-resistant bacteria are killed
• What is the result of a population of resistant bacteria?

  It increases and can cause serious infections
• What is the importance of monitoring antibiotic use?

  To slow down the rate of resistance
• Why is it important for doctors to avoid over-prescribing antibiotics?

  To prevent the development of resistant strains
• What can happen if antibiotic-resistant strains are not controlled?

  They can lead to serious public health issues
• What is the role of natural selection in antibiotic resistance?

  It favors bacteria that survive antibiotic treatment
• What is a key factor in the development of antibiotic resistance?

  Overuse of antibiotics
• How can healthcare providers help combat antibiotic resistance?

  By prescribing antibiotics only when necessary
• What is the impact of antibiotic resistance on treatment options?

  It limits effective treatment choices
• Why is it important to educate patients about antibiotic use?

  To ensure they understand when to use them
• What is a consequence of slow development of new antibiotics?

  Increased difficulty in treating infections
• What is the significance of reducing the rate of resistant strains?

  It helps maintain the effectiveness of existing antibiotics
• How does the rate of development of resistant strains affect healthcare?

  It complicates treatment and increases healthcare costs
• What is the main effect of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

  It causes serious wound infections
• Why is MRSA resistant to antibiotics?

  It is resistant to powerful antibiotic meticillin
• What should doctors avoid to manage antibiotic resistance?

  Over-prescribing antibiotics
• What is the consequence of stopping antibiotics too early?

  It can lead to serious infections
• What is important to complete when taking antibiotics?

  Finish the whole course of antibiotics
• How do plants defend themselves against pests?

  By producing a variety of chemicals
• What can some plant chemicals be used for?

  To treat human diseases
• What is a common source of many current medicines?

  Plants used in traditional cures
• What is aspirin used for?

  As a painkiller and to lower fever
• From what was aspirin developed?

  From a chemical found in willow
• What is digitalis used to treat?

  Heart conditions
• What is the origin of digitalis?

  From a chemical found in foxgloves
• What is the significance of penicillin?

  It kills bacteria
• What was penicillin developed from?

  A substance produced by mold
• What is the current trend in drug development?

  Drugs are made on a large scale
• Who typically synthesizes drugs in labs?

  Chemists in pharmaceutical labs
• What might still be used in drug development?

  Chemicals extracted from plants
• What is the focus of the pharmaceutical industry?

  Drug development