Why Do We Fall Ill

 Health and Disease

o Health - A state of physical, mental, and social well-being that includes a unity and
harmony within the mind, body, and soul of an organism

o Disease - Any condition that can lead to discomfort, distress, health problems, and even
death of the affected person

o Symptoms - Indications of disease, such as headache, stomach pain, nausea, etc that can
only be felt by the patient

o Signs of a disease include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc that can be observed by a
physician

o Incubation period - The time interval between infection and appearance of symptoms

Causes of diseases

1. Contributory causes

o Unhealthy condition
o Improper public service
o Poverty

2. Immediate causes:

 These are external causes like micro-organisms.

 Organisms like virus, bacteria, and other micro-organisms can cause diseases in a person.

On the basis of its duration , diseases are of two types- Acute and Chronic

 Acute - Lasts for a short period of time, eg. Cold, cough, influenza, etc.

 Chronic - Lasts for long periods of time, eg. Diabetes, kidney stones, etc.

The disease-causing microorganisms that transmit communicable diseases belong to

different categories such as:

 Viruses - These are tiny organisms that grow, multiply, or reproduce only inside the host
cells.
 Diseases caused by viruses - Influenza, cold (Rhinovirus), dengue, AIDS, etc.

 Bacteria - These are unicellular organisms; larger than viruses

Diseases caused by bacteria - Whooping cough, typhoid, cholera, anthrax, etc.

 Fungi - These are plant-like organisms; heterotrophic

Diseases caused by Fungi - Athlete’s foot, candidiasis, ringworms, etc.

 Protozoa - These are simple, primitive unicellular organisms which are often found in
water.

Diseases caused by Protozoa - Amoebiasis, kala azar, malaria, African sleeping sickness, etc.

 Multicellular animals like worms - These are parasites that infect the intestines of
human beings and other animals.

Diseases caused by worms- Diarrhoea, anaemia, liver rot, etc.

 Disease is characterised by various signs and symptoms.

 Infectious diseases. For example: Common cold

 Noninfectious For example: Cancer

 Infectious diseases.

It spreads through infectious agents that include bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi.

 Bacterial diseases

1. Typhoid fever: Salmonella typhi; Widal test is used for confirmation of typhoid

2. Pneumonia: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae; it infects the alveoli

of lungs

3. Other examples include dysentery, plague, diphtheria

 Viral diseases

1. Common cold: Spreads through Rhino viruses

 Protozoan diseases

1. Malaria: Pathogen is Plasmodium; malarial parasite requires two hosts: humans and female
anopheles mosquito; malarial parasite reproduces asexually in the human host while in the
mosquito host it reproduces sexually
2. Amoebiasis (amoebic dysentery): Entamoeba histolytica

 Helminthes diseases

1. Ascariasis: Pathogen is Ascaris

2. Elephantiasis or filariasis: Pathogen is Wuchereria bancrofti
3. Taeniasis : pathogen is Taenia solium or Taenia saginata

 Fungi

1. Ringworms: Caused by fungi which belong to genera Microsporum, Trichophyton and

Epidermophyton

On the basis of causative agents - Infectious and Non-infectious

 Infectious - Diseases such as influenza, cold, etc., which are caused due to infectious
agents . An infectious disease is classified as communicable because it can be transferred
from an infected person to a healthy person.

 Non-infectious - Diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, etc., which are caused by
some internal causes such as excessive weight, genetic defects, etc. These are non
communicable because it cannot be transmitted from a diseased person to a healthy
person.

1. Communicable Diseases - Diseases which spread from one person to another, such as
influenza, cold, etc. They are caused by the disease-causing microorganisms.

2. Non-communicable Diseases - Diseases which cannot spread from one person to another
such as high blood pressure, cancer, etc. These diseases are caused by some internal causes
such as excessive weight, genetic defects, etc.

Communicable diseases

The disease-causing microorganisms that transmit communicable diseases belong to

different categories such as:

 Viruses - These are tiny organisms that grow, multiply, or reproduce only inside the host
cells.

Diseases caused by viruses - Influenza, cold (Rhinovirus), dengue, AIDS, etc.

 Bacteria - These are unicellular organisms; larger than viruses

Diseases caused by bacteria - Whooping cough, typhoid, cholera, anthrax, etc.

 Fungi - These are plant-like organisms; heterotrophic
 Diseases caused by Fungi - Athlete’s foot, candidiasis, ringworms, etc.

 Protozoa - These are simple, primitive unicellular organisms which are often found in
water.

Diseases caused by Protozoa - Amoebiasis, kala azar, malaria, African sleeping sickness, etc.

 Multicellular animals like worms - These are parasites that infect the intestines of
human beings and other animals.
Diseases caused by worms- Diarrhoea, anaemia, liver rot, etc.

 Means of spread of communicable diseases

Based on the mode of transmission, communicable diseases are of following types

 Air-borne diseases - Transmitted when disease-causing microorganisms are expelled into

the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, etc.

Eg. Common cold, chicken pox, small pox, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, etc.

 Water-borne diseases - Spread when the excretions, from an infected person, containing
causal microorganisms get mixed with drinking water and this contaminated water is
consumed

Eg. Cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, etc.

 Food borne diseases – Caused by consuming food infected by disease causing microbes.
Eg. Botulism, stomach infections, etc.

 Contact – spreads through coming in contact with the diseased person or using the articles
used by him
Eg. swine flu, ringworm, conjunctivitis

 Animals – Animals which transfer disease-causing microorganisms from an infected

person to others are called vectors
Eg. female mosquitoes can transfer the malaria-causing Plasmodium

Non-Communicable diseases

A non-communicable disease can be caused by nutrient deficiency, malfunctioning of body

organs (degenerative diseases), and bad habits like drug abuse.

 Nutrition deficiency – These diseases are caused by deficiency of certain nutrients like
carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, vitamins, etc. The person suffering from such diseases is
called malnourished
1. Carbohydrate and protein deficiency – Leads to marasmus. In this the body becomes lean
and thin, ribs become prominent and child suffers from mental retardation.

2. Protein deficiency – Leads to Kwashiorkor. In this, the belly protrudes out, eyes bulge and
the legs become stick thin.

3. Vitamin deficiency – deficiency of different vitamins lead to different diseases.

Deficiency of Leads to
Vitamin A Night blindness
Vitamin B Beri-beri
Vitamin C Scurvy
Vitamin D Rickets
Vitamin K haemorrhage

4. Mineral deficiency – deficiency of different minerals lead to different diseases.

Deficiency of Leads to
Iron Anaemia
Calcium Rickets
Sodium Muscle cramps
Phosphorus Bad teeth and bones
iodine Goitre

 Infectious agents

o They are the disease-causing microorganisms which belong to different categories such as:

 Viruses - These are tiny organisms that grow, multiply, or reproduce only inside the host
cells. Some diseases caused by viruses - Influenza, cold (Rhinovirus), dengue, AIDS, SARS
etc.

 Bacteria - These are unicellular prokaryotes which are harmful as well as beneficial for
humans. Some diseases caused by bacteria - Whooping cough, typhoid, cholera, anthrax,
etc.

 Fungi - These are eukaryotic heterotrophic organisms. Some diseases caused by Fungi -
Athlete’s foot, candidiasis, ringworms, etc.

 Protozoa - These are simple, primitive unicellular organisms which are often found in
water. Some diseases caused by Protozoans - Amoebiasis, kala azar.

 Multicellular animals like worms - These are parasites that infect the intestine of human
beings and other animals Some diseases caused by worms- Diarrhoea, liver rot, etc.
 Communicable diseases

o An infectious disease is classified as communicable disease as it can be transferred from an

infected person to a healthy person

 Means of disease spread

o They are the disease-causing microorganisms which belong to different categories such as:

 Air-borne diseases - Transmitted when disease-causing microorganisms are expelled into

the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, etc. E.g., common cold, chicken pox, small pox,
pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, etc.

 Water-borne diseases - Spreads when the excretions (from an infected person)

containing causal microorganisms get mixed with drinking water and this contaminated
water is consumed. E.g., cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, etc.

 Physical contact – Includes sexually-transmitted diseases. E.g., syphilis, gonorrhoea, AIDS,

etc.

 Blood to blood contact – Such contact is established during blood transfusion or

pregnancy (between the mother and her baby). E.g., AIDS can spread through blood
contact

 Animals –Animals that transfer disease-causing microorganisms from an infected person

to others are called vectors. E.g., female mosquitoes can transfer the malaria-causing
Plasmodium

 Effects of diseases

o Local effects - Includes swelling, pain, joint stiffness, etc., that occur only at the site of
infection

o General effects - Includes fever chills, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc., that occur
all over the body

o Inflammation- The process by which the body’s immune system shows response to
protect the body from infection

Based on the mode of transmission, communicable diseases are of following types

 Air-borne diseases - Transmitted when disease-causing microorganisms are expelled into

the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, etc.

Eg. Common cold, chicken pox, small pox, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, etc.
 Water-borne diseases - Spread when the excretions, from an infected person, containing
causal microorganisms get mixed with drinking water and this contaminated water is
consumed

E.g., Cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, etc.

 Food borne diseases – Caused by consuming food infected by disease causing microbes.
E.g. Botulism, stomach infections, etc.

 Contact – spreads through coming in contact with the diseased person or using the articles
used by him

Eg. swine flu, ringworm, conjunctivitis

 Animals – Animals which transfer disease-causing microorganisms from an infected

person to others are called vectors

Eg. female mosquitoes can transfer the malaria-causing Plasmodium.

Our body gets infected with various diseases when microbes enter our body. However, our
body provides resistance to these microbes through various general and specific
mechanisms to protect itself.
Specific Defence Mechanism
The functioning of this mechanism involves the following.

 Engulfing of specific pathogens by the white blood cells

 Production of specific antibodies against specific antigens

Components of specific defence mechanism.

 White blood cells

 Monocytes: become macrophages on maturation. A macrophage engulfs an invading

pathogen.

 Lymphocytes: These white blood cells generate antibodies against the antigens.

 Antibodies: Specific antibodies are generated for specific antigens. The antibodies either
prevent the entry of the pathogen into the cell or kill it.

Sometimes ordinary substances such as pollen-dust, vegetables and fruits may also act as
antigens. The body produces antibodies in its defence and this causes allergies.
 Treatment of Diseases- Two ways to treat the diseases are-

o Reducing the effect of a disease

o Killing the cause of a disease

 Prevention of diseases

o There are some general and specific ways to prevent the diseases

 General ways -

o Stay away from the diseased person.

o Ensure safe drinking water supply.

o Provide a clean environment, which helps in preventing vectors like mosquitoes from
breeding.

o Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of the
disease.

o Availability of proper nutrition. If proper and sufficient nutrition is not available, the
immune system of the body will not function properly.

 Specific ways-

o Vaccination- It is protection of the body from communicable diseases by the administration

of some agents that mimic the microbe. Vaccines are available against many diseases like
tetanus, polio, measles, hepatitis B, whooping cough, yellow fever etc. These vaccines can
be prepared from dead germs, or live, weakened germs, or live virulent germs, or toxoids.

o Immunization- The immune system develops strength in the body to fight off microbes. It is
made up of special cells, proteins, and organs which protect the body against micro-
organisms.

 Measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases –

 Personal hygiene: It includes cleanliness of body, drinking of clean water, etc.
 Public hygiene: It includes cleaning of water reservoirs, proper disposal of sewage, etc.