Communicable Diseases

• communicable disease


  a disease that can be passed to a person from another person, animal or object.
• pathogens


  disease causing organisms that are so small they can only be seen through a microscope.
• infections

  a condition that occurs when pathogens enter the body, multiply, and cause harm.
• fungi


  organisms that are more complex than bacteria but cannot make their own food.
• vector


  an organism, such as an insect, that transmits pathogens.
• You can prevent pathogens from spreading by...


  eating nutritious foods, get enough physical activity and rest, avoid close contact with people infected, never share utensils or personal hygiene items, avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes and much more.
• immune system


  a combination of body defenses made up of the cells, tissues and organs.
• immunity


  your body's ability to resist the germs that cause a particular disease.
• inflammation


  the body's response to injury or disease, resulting in a condition of swelling, pain, heat, and redness.
• lymphatic system


  a secondary circulatory system that helps the body fight pathogens and maintains its fluid balance.
• lymph


  the fluid circulating in the lymphatic system.
• lymphocytes


  the white blood cells in the lymphatic system.
• antigen


  any substance released by invading pathogens.
• antibodies

  proteins that attach to antigens, keeping them from harming the body.
• vaccine

  a preparation of dead or weakened pathogens that causes the immune system to produce antibodies.
• the 5 major barriers

  tears, mucous membrane, saliva, skin and stomach acid.
• memory t-cells and b-cells


  make copies of diseases fought.
• hepatitis


  a viral disease of the liver characterized by yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
• tuberculosis

  bacterial disease that usually effects the lungs.
• pneumonia


  furious inflammation of the lungs.
• strep throat


  sore throat caused by strepical bacteria.
• measles


  symptoms are fever, runny nose, cough and rash.
• mumps


  symptoms are fever, headache, swollen neck and jaw.
• rubella

  symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, rash and fever.