Human Health AND Disease flash cards

1. 1.Define health as per WHO.

   Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

   Hint: Not just 'no disease' — three dimensions.

2. 2.Differentiate infectious and non-infectious diseases with examples.

   Infectious diseases spread from person to person (transmissible) via pathogens, e.g. AIDS, common cold. Non-infectious do not spread, e.g. cancer (most common & serious non-infectious disease).

   Hint: Communicable vs not; cancer is the key non-infectious example.

3. 3.What is a pathogen? Name the major groups.

   A disease-causing organism. Groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and helminths (worms).

   Hint: Disease-causing agents.

4. 4.Name the pathogen, type and key symptoms of Typhoid.

   Pathogen: Salmonella typhi (bacterium). Symptoms: sustained high fever (39–40°C), weakness, stomach pain, constipation, headache, loss of appetite; intestinal perforation and death in severe cases.

   Hint: Salmonella; a famous cook 'Mary' spread it.

5. 5.How does Salmonella typhi enter and spread in the body?

   Enters via contaminated food and water through the mouth, migrates to the small intestine, then through blood to other organs.

   Hint: Faecal-oral, gut then blood.

6. 6.What is the Widal test used for?

   A diagnostic test to confirm typhoid fever.

   Hint: Named diagnostic for Salmonella typhi.

7. 7.QUESTION: Historically, who was the classic typhoid carrier and why is she remembered?

   'Typhoid Mary' — a cook who spread typhoid through the food she prepared, illustrating that carriers can transmit disease without showing severe symptoms.

   Hint: A cook; asymptomatic carrier.

8. 8.Name the pathogens causing Pneumonia in humans.

   Bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.

   Hint: Strepto- and Haemophilus.

9. 9.Which organ does Pneumonia affect, and what are its symptoms?

   Infects the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs; alveoli fill with fluid causing severe breathing problems. Symptoms: fever, chills, cough, headache; lips and finger nails may turn grey to bluish.

   Hint: Alveoli fill with fluid.

10. 10.How does Pneumonia spread?

    By inhaling droplets/aerosols released by an infected person, or by sharing glasses and utensils with an infected person.

    Hint: Droplets and shared utensils.

11. 11.Name the causative agents of the common cold and the region affected.

    Rhino viruses; they infect the nose and respiratory passage (not the lungs).

    Hint: Rhino = nose.

12. 12.List the symptoms of the common cold.

    Nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, headache, tiredness, etc., usually lasting 3–7 days.

    Hint: Runny nose, sore throat, 3–7 days.

13. 13.How is the common cold transmitted?

    Through droplets (cough/sneeze) inhaled directly, or indirectly via contaminated objects such as pens, books, cups, doorknobs.

    Hint: Droplets + fomites.

14. 14.Name the pathogen causing malaria and its four human species.

    Protozoan Plasmodium: P. vivax, P. malariae, P. falciparum, P. ovale.

    Hint: Four Plasmodium species.

15. 15.Which malarial parasite causes the most serious (malignant) malaria?

    Plasmodium falciparum — causes malignant malaria, which can be fatal.

    Hint: Falciparum = fatal.

16. 16.Which mosquito transmits malaria, and which sex?

    Female Anopheles mosquito is the vector (only females bite/feed on blood).

    Hint: Female Anopheles.

17. 17.In the malaria life cycle, what does the mosquito inject into the human?

    Infected female Anopheles injects sporozoites (the infectious stage) through its bite along with saliva.

    Hint: Sporozoites in mosquito saliva.

18. 18.What happens to Plasmodium in the human liver?

    Sporozoites multiply in liver cells (hepatocytes), then attack and enter the red blood cells (RBCs).

    Hint: Liver first, then RBCs.

19. 19.Which stage of Plasmodium is released when RBCs rupture, and what is haemozoin?

    Merozoites are released when RBCs burst; haemozoin is a toxic substance released along with them that causes the characteristic chill and high fever recurring every 3–4 days.

    Hint: Merozoites + toxin causing chills.

20. 20.Why does malarial fever recur at regular intervals (every 3–4 days)?

    Because it coincides with the synchronous rupture of RBCs releasing merozoites and the toxin haemozoin.

    Hint: Linked to RBC bursting cycle.

21. 21.What are the gametocytes in the malaria cycle, and where do they develop further?

    Parasites (male & female gametocytes) form in human RBCs; when taken up by a feeding female Anopheles, they undergo fertilisation and further development in the mosquito's gut.

    Hint: Sexual stage; matures in mosquito.

22. 22.QUESTION: In malaria, name the primary and secondary/definitive host.

    Human is the intermediate (secondary) host where asexual reproduction occurs; the female Anopheles mosquito is the primary/definitive host where sexual reproduction (fertilisation) occurs.

    Hint: Sexual reproduction happens in the mosquito.

23. 23.Who discovered the malarial parasite and its link to Anopheles?

    Ronald Ross established the link between the malarial parasite and the female Anopheles mosquito.

    Hint: Nobel laureate, Ross.

24. 24.Name the pathogen causing amoebiasis (amoebic dysentery) and organ affected.

    Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan that lives in the large intestine of humans.

    Hint: Entamoeba, large intestine.

25. 25.List symptoms of amoebiasis.

    Constipation, abdominal pain and cramps, stools with excess mucus and blood clots.

    Hint: Mucus + blood in stool.

26. 26.How is amoebiasis transmitted?

    Through contaminated food and water (faecal contamination); houseflies act as mechanical carriers transferring the parasite from infected faeces to food.

    Hint: Houseflies as mechanical carrier.

27. 27.Name the causative agent of Ascariasis.

    Ascaris lumbricoides — an intestinal roundworm (helminth).

    Hint: Common roundworm.

28. 28.List symptoms of Ascariasis.

    Internal bleeding, muscular pain, fever, anaemia and blockage of the intestinal passage.

    Hint: Anaemia + intestinal blockage.

29. 29.How is Ascaris transmitted to humans?

    Eggs are excreted in faeces of infected persons and spread via contaminated soil, water, plants and vegetables.

    Hint: Faecal eggs, contaminated food/soil.

30. 30.Name the pathogen and vector of Filariasis (elephantiasis).

    Filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti and W. malayi; transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes (e.g. Culex).

    Hint: Wuchereria; mosquito vector.

Open the interactive deck for the other 73 cards, with self-grading so the ones you keep missing come back.