Health and Diseases Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

How is health defined according to the information provided?

Only measured by productivity at work

A condition that requires regular medical check-ups

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (correct)

The absence of disease or physical fitness only

What is one important benefit of being healthy mentioned in the content?

Improved efficiency at work and productivity (correct)

Assurance of physical fitness only

Increased chances of getting diseases

Lower need for healthcare interventions

Which factor is NOT mentioned as important for maintaining good health?

Balanced diet

Personal hygiene

Regular exercise

Frequent medical check-ups (correct)

What are pathogens primarily associated with?

Causing diseases in humans Signup and view all the answers

Infectious diseases are characterized by what key feature?

Easily transmitted from one person to another Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases is mentioned as a significant cause of death among non-infectious diseases?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT part of achieving good health as outlined?

Improper waste disposal Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of pathogens that enter the gut?

They must survive low pH and digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method to control diseases transmitted through insect vectors?

Controlling or eliminating the insect vectors and their breeding places Signup and view all the answers

Which method is effective in preventing mosquito entry in homes?

Providing doors and windows with wire mesh Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases is completely eradicated due to vaccination?

Smallpox Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes innate immunity from acquired immunity?

Innate immunity is non-specific and present at birth Signup and view all the answers

Which vector is specifically associated with diseases like dengue and chikungunya?

Aedes mosquitoes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies does NOT contribute to the control of malaria and filariasis?

Utilizing antibiotics as a preventive measure Signup and view all the answers

What role does biotechnology play in the context of infectious diseases?

It may facilitate the development of newer and safer vaccines Signup and view all the answers

What is immunity responsible for during exposure to infectious agents?

Enabling the body to fight disease-causing organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary means by which healthy individuals acquire the infection caused by Wuchereria?

Bite from female mosquito vectors Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is specifically associated with the chronic inflammation caused by Wuchereria?

Filariasis Signup and view all the answers

What are the main symptoms of ringworms caused by fungi from the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton?

Dry, scaly lesions and intense itching Signup and view all the answers

In which environmental conditions do fungi responsible for ringworms thrive best?

Heat and moisture Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a preventive measure for controlling infectious diseases related to water and food?

Eating raw vegetables and fruits Signup and view all the answers

How are ringworms typically acquired?

By using items from infected individuals Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the chronic inflammation caused by Wuchereria affecting the lymphatic vessels?

Elephantiasis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following practices is vital for personal and public hygiene to prevent infections?

Keeping the body clean and consuming clean food and water Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the skin in the context of innate immunity?

To prevent entry of microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

Which component of innate immunity is responsible for destroying microbes through phagocytosis?

Certain leukocytes Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes acquired immunity?

It is pathogen specific and has memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of B-lymphocytes in the acquired immune response?

They produce antibodies Signup and view all the answers

The primary immune response is characterized by what type of intensity?

Low intensity Signup and view all the answers

What type of chains make up the structure of an antibody molecule?

Two heavy chains and two light chains Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of interferons in the context of innate immunity?

To protect non-infected cells from viral infection Signup and view all the answers

Which type of immune response involves an army of proteins that fight pathogens?

Humoral immune response Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the bone marrow?

Producing blood cells including lymphocytes Signup and view all the answers

How does the size of the thymus change from birth to puberty?

Reduces in size Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organs acts as a filter for the blood?

Spleen Signup and view all the answers

What role do lymph nodes play in the immune response?

Activate lymphocytes against trapped antigens Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of lymphoid tissue in the human body is made up of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)?

50 percent Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes AIDS?

A syndrome that indicates a deficiency of the immune system acquired during life Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the spleen?

It has a large reservoir of erythrocytes Signup and view all the answers

When was AIDS first reported?

1981 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defining Health

Health is not just the absence of disease or physical fitness.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.
Good health leads to greater work efficiency, increased productivity, economic prosperity, longevity, and a decrease in infant and maternal mortality.
Maintaining good health requires a balanced diet, personal hygiene, regular exercise, and awareness of diseases and their effects.

Different Types of Diseases

Infectious Diseases: Transmitted from one person to another.
- Examples: AIDS, ringworms, typhoid, amoebiasis, ascariasis, pneumonia, common cold, malaria, filariasis, dengue, chikungunya.
Non-infectious Diseases: Not transmitted from one person to another.
- Examples: Cancer, drug and alcohol abuse.

Causes of Infectious Diseases

Pathogens: Disease-causing organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, and helminths.
Parasites: Can be pathogens because they harm their hosts.
Vectors: Organisms that transmit pathogens, such as mosquitoes.

Examples of Infectious Diseases

Elephantiasis (Filariasis): Caused by filarial worms (Wuchereria bancrofti and W. malayi).
- Worms live in the lymphatic vessels, primarily in the lower limbs.
- Symptoms include chronic inflammation and gross deformities, including swelling of the limbs and genital organs.
- Transmitted through the bite of infected female mosquitoes.
Ringworm: Caused by fungi from the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton.
- Symptoms include dry, scaly lesions on the skin, nails, and scalp, accompanied by intense itching.
- Acquired from soil or contact with infected individuals.

Preventing Infectious Diseases

Personal Hygiene: Keeping the body clean, consuming clean water, food, and produce.
Public Hygiene: Proper waste disposal, periodic cleaning and disinfection of water reservoirs, and adhering to hygiene standards in public catering.
Control of Vectors: Avoiding stagnation of water, regular cleaning of household coolers, using mosquito nets, introducing fish that feed on mosquito larvae, spraying insecticides, and using wire mesh on doors and windows.

Immunity

The body's ability to defend itself from disease-causing organisms.
Two types of immunity:
- Innate Immunity: Non-specific defense present at birth.
- Acquired Immunity: Pathogen-specific, characterized by memory.

Components of Innate Immunity

Physical Barriers: Skin and mucus membranes.
Physiological Barriers: Stomach acid, saliva, and tears.
Cellular Barriers: White blood cells (WBC), including neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer cells.
Cytokine Barriers: The proteins called interferons secreted by virus-infected cells.

Acquired Immunity

Primary Response: The body's first encounter with a pathogen, resulting in a weak immune response.
Secondary Response (Anamnestic Response): Subsequent encounters with the same pathogen, resulting in a stronger and faster immune response.
Lymphocytes: B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, responsible for the adaptive immune response.

The Immune System's Response

Antibodies: Proteins produced by B-lymphocytes to fight pathogens.
Humoral Immune Response: The immune response mediated by antibodies in the blood.

Lymphoid Organs

Bone Marrow: Produces all blood cells, including lymphocytes.
Thymus: A lobed organ located near the heart, responsible for maturation of T-lymphocytes.
Spleen: A bean-shaped organ that filters the blood, containing lymphocytes and phagocytes.
Lymph Nodes: Small solid structures that trap microorganisms, located along the lymphatic system.
MALT (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue): Lymphoid tissue located within the lining of major tracts, contributing to immune responses along the respiratory, digestive, and urogenital tracts.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Deficiency of the Immune System: Acquired during a person's lifetime, not a congenital disease.
Syndrome: A group of symptoms associated with the weakened immune system.
A Global Epidemic: Reported in 1981, AIDS has spread worldwide, affecting millions of people.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers essential concepts of health, emphasizing that it encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being. It discusses various types of diseases, differentiating between infectious and non-infectious, and explores the causes and impacts of these diseases on health and productivity.