infectious diseases ˚ ༘ ⋆

Cards (9)

  • An infectious disease is a transmissible disease that can be spread from one person to another
  • Pathogens are disease-causing organisms such as bacteria and virus
  • Virus:
    • An organism with a protein coat enclosing its genetic material and reproduces only in living host cells
  • Bacteria:
    • An organism with a cell wall and DNA without a nucleus
    • Some bacteria are pathogenic and some are non-pathogenic
  • A sign of a disease can be observed or measured. Examples are rashes, fever, coughing or vomiting
  • A symptom of a disease can be described or felt by the patient
    • Examples of symptoms are headaches, fatigue and nausea
  • A vaccine is an agent that resembles a pathogen and prevents infectious diseases by stimulating white blood cells to quickly produce antibodies when the pathogen invades
  • Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial or fungal infections
  • Modes of transmission: air, direct contact with an infected person/surface, ingestion of contaminated food & water, vector transmits from one person to another