Pathogens and disease management

• Infections pyramid


  A tool to explain how to manage diseases and find the best course of treatment
• Infections pyramid


  • Looks at the host, pathogen, and environment of a disease
• Covering each disease


  1. Discuss the host

  2. Discuss the pathogen

  3. Discuss the environment
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)


  A virus that attacks the immune system, leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
• HIV


  • Replicates in immune cells responsible for controlling viral infections
  • Difficult to treat
• HIV can be contracted through sexual intercourse, blood/organ transplants, and mother-to-child transmission
• Antiretroviral (ARV) medication


  Slows down the growth of HIV
• Tuberculosis (TB)


  A bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs
• Tuberculosis


  • Causes inflammation and lesions in the respiratory system
  • Can spread to the brain and bones
  • Often leads to coughing up blood
• Tuberculosis transmission


  Spread through coughing and sharing sputum (mucus)
• Tuberculosis treatment


  1. month course of antibiotics (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course - DOTS)
• Malaria


  A disease caused by a protozoan parasite transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes
• Malaria


  • Reproduces in the liver and red blood cells
  • Causes fever, flu-like symptoms, and can be misdiagnosed initially
• Malaria transmission


  Mosquito bites inject the parasite into the human host
• Malaria treatment


  Anti-malarial prophylaxis (preventative medication) and treating the symptoms
• Ringworm


  A fungal skin infection that appears as a red, itchy, circular rash
• Ringworm


  • Not caused by a worm, but by a fungus called Tinea
  • Grows on the surface of the skin, feeding on keratin
• Ringworm transmission


  Contracted through contact with contaminated soil, sand, or surfaces
• Ringworm treatment


  Keeping the skin dry and using antifungal creams