communiable (infectious) diseases

• What are pathogens?

  Microorganisms that enter the body and cause disease
• What are bacteria?

  Very small living cells which can reproduce rapidly inside your body
• How do bacteria make you feel sick?

  They produce toxins that damage your cells and tissue
• What are viruses

  They are much smaller than cells and 1/100 of a bacterium
• How do viruses make you feel ill

  They replicate themselves using cell's machinery. So many are produced eventually bursting the cell which causes cell damage.
• What are protists?


  They are single celled eukaryotes. Some are parasites which live on or in the host and cause damage
• Explain fungi

  Single celled and penetrate things, causing disease
• Name 3 ways pathogens can spread

  Water, air and direct contact
• Name 4 ways the spread of disease can be reduced or prevented

  Being hygienic - washing hands etc.

  Destroying vectors

  Vaccination

  Isolating infected individuals
• What is a communicable disease?

  Any disease that is infectious.
• What are communicable diseases caused by?

  Viruses, bacteria, protists and fungi all cause infections in animals and plants, and these infections can be spread from one individual to another.
• What is a pathogen?

  Any virus, bacteria, protist or fungus that causes an infectious disease. They are all microorganisms.
• Do all microorganisms cause infectious disease?

  No, many microorganisms are not pathogens. Some bacteria are useful, for making cheese and yoghurt. We eat some fungi, like mushrooms and Quorn.
• How are pathogenic microorganisms spread?

  Spread of microorganisms can be by direct contact, by water or by air.
• What do pathogenic bacteria do?

  Their cells reproduce rapidly inside the body, producing toxins that damage tissues and make us feel ill.