communicable disease (pathogens)

• What are pathogens?

  Microorganisms that enter the body and cause disease.
• What do pathogens cause?

  Cause communicable (infectious) diseases - diseases that can easily spread
• What are bacteria?

  Very small cells which can reproduce rapidly inside you body. They can make you fell ill by producing toxins, that damage your cells and tissues.
• What are viruses?

  Are not cells. They’re tiny and can reproduce rapidly like bacteria.
• How do viruses cause cell damage?

  Viruses replicate themselves using the cells machinery to produce many copies of themselves. The cells will usually then burst , releasing all the new viruses.
• The cell damage is what makes you feel ill.
• What are protists?

  Single celled eukaryotes, some are parasites which live on or inside other organisms and can cause them damage. Often transferred by a vector.
• What are fungi?

  Some single celled, some have a body made up of hyphae, which can grow and penetrate human skin and the surface of plants causing diseases. Also can produce spores that spread to other plants and animals.
• What are three ways that pathogens can be spread by?

  Water, Air, Direct contact.
• How are pathogens spread by water?

  Some pathogens can be picked up by drinking or bathing in dirty water. E.g Cholera by drinking water contaminated with the diarrhoea of other sufferers.
• How are pathogens spread in air?

  Carried in the air, then breathed in. Some airborne pathogens carried in droplets produced when you cough or sneeze, e.g the influenza virus that causes flu.
• How are pathogens spread by direct contact?

  Some pathogens can be picked up by touching contaminated surfaces, including skin. E.g athletes foot is a fungus which makes skin itch and flake off.
• How is athletes foot spread by direct contact?

  By touching the same things as the infected person e.g towels or shower floors.