Common Diseases in Humans
What is Health?
● Health is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well being.
● Health increases productivity and ensures longevity.
Ways to Ensure Good Health
● Balanced diet
● Personal hygiene
● Exercise
● Awareness about prevention and control of diseases
● Proper waste disposal and control of vectors
● Vaccination
Why do Diseases Occur?
● Genetic reasons − Innate deficiencies and inheritable defects
● Infections
● Sedentary life style − Junk food, consumption of alcohols/drugs, lack
of exercise
Pathogenic Diseases
● Pathogens are the parasites that enter the human body through
various means, then multiply, and interfere with normal vital activities.
Bacterial Diseases
● Typhoid
○ Pathogen − Salmonella typhi
○ Spreads through − Contaminated food and water
○ Site of infection − Small intestine
○ Symptoms − High fever, stomach pain, headache, loss of
appetite, constipation, and intestinal perforations in severe cases
○ Confirmatory test − Widal test
● Pneumonia
○ Pathogens − Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus
influenzae
○ Spreads through − Droplets/aerosols released from infected
person, sharing of glasses or utensils
○ Site of infection − Alveoli (gets filled with fluid, difficulty in
breathing)
○ Symptoms − Fever, chills, cough, headache, lips and nails
become grey in severe cases
Viral Diseases
● Common cold
○ Pathogen − Rhino viruses
○ Site of infection − Nose and respiratory passage
○ Spreads through − Droplets released from coughing or sneezing,
or contaminated objects
○ Symptoms − Nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat,
cough, headache, tiredness
Protozoan Diseases
● Malaria
○ Pathogen − Plasmodium sps. ([Link], P. falciparum, P. malaria)
○ Vector − Female Anopheles mosquito
○ Symptoms − High grade fever, chills
● Amoebiasis
○ Pathogen − Entamoeba histolytica
○ Vector − Housefly
○ Site of infection − Large intestine
○ Symptoms − Constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, stools with
mucous, and blood clots
Fungal Diseases
● Ringworms
○ Pathogens − Genera Microsporum, Trichophyton, and
Epidermophyton
○ Spreads through − Towels, clothes, comb (Fungus is acquired
from soil)
○ Symptoms − Appearance of dry, scaly lesions on various body
parts with intense itching
Diseases Caused by Worms
● Ascariasis
○ Pathogen − Round worm, Ascaris
○ Spreads through − Water, vegetables, fruits contaminated by
faeces of infected person
○ Symptoms − Internal bleeding, muscular pain, fever, anaemia,
blockage of intestinal passage
● Elephantiasis (filariasis)
○ Pathogen − Wuchereria ([Link] and [Link])
○ Spreads through − Bite of female mosquito vector
○ Symptom − Chronic inflammation of the organs, usually the
lymphatic vessels of lower limb
Life Cycle of Plasmodium
● Plasmodium requires two hosts to complete its life cycle.
● When female Anopheles mosquito bites a healthy human being, it
releases Plasmodium, which lives in its body as sporozoite (infectious
form).
● The parasites multiply (asexual reproduction) in the liver cells and
finally burst the liver cells. Sporozoites are released in blood.
● Parasites enter RBCs and further multiply (asexual reproduction) here
and finally burst RBCs also.
● Bursting of RBCs is accompanied by release of a toxic substance called
haemozoin (associated with fever and chills).
● In the RBCs, only sporozoites change into gametocytes (sexual stage).
Gametocytes multiply.
● When the diseased person is bitten by a female Anopheles mosquito,
gametocytes are introduced into the mosquito.
● Gametocytes fertilise and develop inside the intestine of mosquito to
form sporozoites.
● Sporozoites are stored in the salivary glands of mosquito and are
released into the healthy person who is bitten by this mosquito.
Immunity
What is immunity?
● The ability of body to fight the disease-causing organisms is called
immunity.
Types of immunity
● Immunity is of two types − innate immunity and acquired immunity.
● Innate immunity − It is present from the time of birth. It is
non-specific. It consists of 4 kinds of barriers.
○ Physical barriers − Skin and mucus coating of respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and urogenital tract prevent entry of microbes
into body.
○ Physiological barriers − Acid in stomach, saliva in mouth, tears
from eyes
○ Cellular barriers − Blood has leukocytes such as polymorpho
nuclear leukocytes, monocytes, etc. and tissue has macrophages
which phagocytose the microbes.
○ Cytokine barriers − Special proteins called interferons are
secreted by virus-infected cells that prevent the further spread
of viral infection.
● Acquired immunity − It is acquired, which means that it is produced
in response to an encounter with a pathogen based on memory. It is
pathogen specific.
○ When a pathogen for the first time infects a person, low intensity
immune response is generated (primary response).
○ When the same pathogen attacks again, intensified immune
response in generated, thereby preventing the occurrence of
disease (secondary response).
○ Acquired immunity involves two types of cells − B-lymphocytes
and T- lymphocytes.
○ B-lymphocytes − Secrete proteins called antibodies in response
to pathogens Antibodies are specialized proteins with 4 peptide
chains (2 light and 2 heavy), hence denoted as H2L2. IgA IgM,
IgE, etc. are examples of some of the antibodies. They generate
humoral immune response (found in blood).
○ T-lymphocytes − They help B-cells to produce antibodies. They
generate cell -mediated immune response. This response
helps the body to differentiate between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’ as
occurs in case of graft rejection.
Difference between active immunity and passive immunity
● Active Immunity
○ This is the naturally acquired immunity produced in the host
body in response to an antigen.
○ Immunization and body naturally getting immune to a microbe
that had caused infection previously are examples of active
immunity.
● Passive immunity
○ When ready-made antibodies are provided to an individual to
protect against foreign agents
○ Colostrums present in mother’s milk contain IgA. Also, the foetus
gets antibodies from mother through placenta.
How does vaccination help?
● Vaccines are nothing but inactivated pathogens.
● These inactivated pathogens when introduced in the body produce a
primary immune response and antibodies are produced against the
pathogen.
● Memory B and T-cells are produced.
● Now when the pathogen again attacks the person, memory B and
T-cells generate a massive immune response and the pathogen is
killed.
Problems of immune system
● Allergies
○ Exaggerated immune response to certain antigens present in
environment
○ Allergens − Substances in response to which allergy is produced
E.g., dust, pollen, etc.
○ Antibodies involved − IgE type
○ During allergic reactions, chemicals such as histamines and
serotonins are released.
○ Symptoms − Sneezing, watery eyes, difficulty in breathing, etc.
○ Allergy test − Patient is injected with small doses of allergens to
monitor his response.
○ Antihistamines, adrenalins, and steroids may be given so that
the symptoms of allergy subside.
● Autoimmunity
○ In autoimmunity, body generates immune response against its
own cells.
○ Reasons − Genetic and other unknown reasons
○ Example − Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Human immune system
● Lymphoid organs are of two types − primary lymphoid organs and
secondary lymphoid organs.
● Primary lymphoid organs consist of bone marrow and thymus. Here,
immature lymphocytes are differentiated to form antigen-sensitive
lymphocytes.
○ Bone marrow − Here, all blood cells including lymphocytes are
produced.
○ Thymus − It is responsible for maturation of T-lymphocytes. This
lobed organ is situated near the heart and keeps on reducing in
size as the age increases.
● Secondary lymphoid organs − Lymphocytes migrate here after
attaining maturity. It includes spleen, lymph nodes tonsils, Peyer’s
patches, and appendix.
○ Spleen − Large bean-shaped organ containing lymphocytes and
phagocytes, which acts as a filter for blood
○ Lymph nodes − Located at different points throughout the
immune system, they trap the antigens present in lymph or
tissue fluid, and these antigens cause activation of lymphocytes
and generation of immune response.
● MALT (Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue) − Lines major tracts
(respiratory, digestive, urogenital, etc); constitutes 50% of lymphoid
tissue in body
AIDS & Cancer
AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome)
● Caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) [HIV is a retrovirus
(RNA virus)]
● Transmission of HIV occurs through:
○ Sexual contact with infected person
○ Sharing infected needles (as in case of intravenous drug
abusers)
○ Transfusion of contaminated blood
○ Infected mother to child through placenta
● Time lag between infection and appearance of symptoms − Few
months to many years (5-10 years)
● How does AIDS infection spread?
○ Virus enters the body of a person and enters macrophages.
○ Here, virus replicates (viral RNA reverse transcribes to viral DNA,
which gets incorporated into hosts DNA and subsequently new
viral particles are produced).
○ Macrophages become a virtual HIV factory.
○ Thereafter, HIV enters helper T-lymphocytes, replicates, and produces
progenies.
○ As the progenies are released, they attack other T-lymphocytes.
○ Therefore, T-lymphocytes start decreasing in number and immune
response of the person becomes weak.
○ Even infections which could be overcome easily start aggravating.
● Diagnosis of AIDS − By ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent
Assay)
● Treatment − No permanent cure; antiretroviral therapies can prolong
the life of patient
● Prevention of AIDS
○ Ensuring use of disposable syringes
○ Screeningblood from blood banks
○ Advocating safe sex
○ NACO (National AIDS Control Organization) and many NGOs are
doing a lot to create awareness among people.
Cancer
● The process of development of cancer is called oncogenic
transformation.
● Normal cells have the property of contact inhibition (stoppage of
growth on coming in contact with other cells), but cancer cells lose this
property.
● As a result, cancer cells divide continuously to give rise to mass of
cells (tumours).
● Tumours are of 2 types − benign and malignant.
● Benign tumours − Remain confined to their original location and do not
spread
● Malignant tumours− These exhibit metastasis i.e., the cells sloughed
from such tumours reach distant sites and wherever they reach, new
tumour is formed.
● Malignant tumours actually represent cancer. The cells actively divide,
grow, and starve the normal cells of vital nutrients.
● Causes of cancer
○ Carcinogens − Physical, chemical, and biological agents that
cause cancer Example - ionizing radiations (X-rays and gamma
rays), non-ionizing radiations (UV)
○ Oncogenic (cancer-causing) viruses − They have viral
oncogenes (cancer-causing genes).
○ Sometimes normal genes in our body called proto-oncogenes get
converted into cellular oncogenes that cause cancer.
● Diagnosing cancer
○ Biopsy and histopathological studies
○ Biopsy − Suspected tissue is cut into thin sections and
examined microscopically
○ Radiography, CT scan (computed tomography), and MRI
(Magnetic resonance imaging) are techniques of diagnosing
cancers.
○ C T Scan − 3-D imaging of internals of an organ is generated by
X-rays.
○ MRI Scan − Pathological and physiological changes in a living
tissue are detected by using magnetic fields and non-ionising
radiations.
○ Immunological and molecular biological diagnostic techniques
can all be used to detect cancers.
○ Identifying certain genes, which make an individual susceptible
to cancers, can help to prevent cancers.
● Treatment of cancer
○ Radiotherapy − Tumour cells are irradiated to death. Also,
proper care is taken for protecting surrounding normal tissues.
○ Chemotherapy − Drugs specific for particular tumours are used
to kill cancer cells. They have side effects such as hair loss,
anaemia, etc.
○ Immunotherapy− Biological response modifiers such as α-
interferons are used. They activate the immune system of
patient and helps in destroying the tumour.
Commonly Abused Drugs
Opioids (Heroin)
● Source: Acetylation of morphine extracted from the latex of poppy
plants (Papaver somniferum)
● Consumed by: Snorting or injection
● Properties: White, bitter and odourless
● Mode of action: Binds to opioid receptors present in the CNS and GI
tract
● Effect: It is a depressant; slows down body functions
Cannabinoids
● Source: Inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa
● Consumed by: Inhalation or oral ingestion
● Mode of action: Binds to cannabinoid receptors present in the brain
● Effect: Affects the cardiovascular system
Cocaine
● Source: Coca plant Erythroxylum coca, found in South America
● Consumed by: Snorting
● Mode of action: Interference with transfer of neurotransmitter,
dopamine
● Effect: Stimulates the CNS, producing a sense of euphoria and
increased energy; excessive dosages cause hallucination
Drugs Normally Used as Medicines
● Drugs like barbiturates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, LSD
(Lysergic acid diethyl amides) are used as medicines to help patients
with mental illness and insomnia.
● Morphine: It is a pain killer which is used for patients who have
undergone surgery, but it is also abused.
Nicotine
● Present in tobacco, which is smoked, chewed or snuffed
● Mode of action: Stimulates the adrenal gland to release adrenaline and
nor-adrenaline
● Effect: Increases blood pressure and heart rate
Ill Effects of Smoking
● Increased risk of diseases like bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart
disease, gastric ulcer and cancer (throat, lung and urinary bladder)
● Increased carbon monoxide levels in blood, leading to oxygen
deficiency
Alcohol / Drug Abuse
Causes of alcohol/ Drug Abuse
● Alcohol / drug abuse normally starts in adolescence (period between
12-18 yrs − transition phase between childhood and adulthood).
● Many adolescents are motivated towards drugs/ alcohol due to
curiosity and experimentation.
● Peer pressure, academic stress, unstable family structure further
incline youth towards alcohol/ drug abuse.
● Perception of consuming alcohol / drug being cool and progressive and
use of alcohol/drug in television, movies, etc. further promote this
habit.
Alcohol/ Drug Addiction
● When a person uses alcohol/ drug repeatedly, he becomes addicted.
● Addiction refers to psychological attachment to certain effects such as
euphoria and temporary feeling of well-being associated with use of
alcohol or drugs.
● In addiction, tolerance level of receptors present in our body increases
towards the drug.
● This drives the person to use them even when they are not required or
when they tend to harm his health / family life.
● Subsequently, the user runs into a vicious circle of addiction and
subsequent dependence.
● Dependence leads to manifestation of withdrawal syndrome on
discontinuation of use.
● Withdrawal syndrome − Anxiety, nausea, sweating, shakiness, and
sometimes may be lethal
Effects of Alcohol/ Drug Abuse
● Immediate effect − Vandalism, violence, and reckless behaviour
● Drop in academic performance, lack of interest in personal hygiene,
rebellious behaviour, and change in eating and sleeping patterns,
weight and appetite fluctuations
● Mental, psychological, and financial loss not only to the user, but also
to his family
● Those who take drugs intravenously have a high risk of acquiring
deadly diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis B.
● Damage to nervous system and liver (cirrhosis)
● Use of anabolic steroids by sportsperson have adverse effects:
○ In females − Increase of masculinity, aggressiveness,
depression, abnormal menstrual cycle, facial hair growth,
enlargement of clitoris, and deepening of voice
○ In males − Acne, aggressiveness, depression, reduction in size
of testicles, decreased sperm production, enlargement of
prostate gland, breast enlargement, premature baldness
● Ultimately, prolonged use of alcohol/drugs leads to coma and death.
Preventing Alcohol/ Drug Abuse
● It is better to prevent the inclination of an individual towards alcohol/
drugs right from adolescence. Some of the ways of prevention are:
○ Avoid peer pressure − Understand the unique personality and
capabilities of a child
○ Education and counselling − A child must be taught to accept
success and failure equally. Especially during adolescence, he
must be inclined towards constructive activities such as music,
yoga, sports, reading based on his interest.
○ Help from parents and peers − This includes proper guidance,
advice, and trust to overcome problems such as stress and guilt.
○ Identifying danger signals − If any sign of symptom of alcohol /
drug abuse is seen in the adolescent by family or friends, then it
should not be ignored because prevention is better than cure.
● Seeking medical help − Psychologists and rehabilitation programs
surely help an addict. Medical help should be sought to prevent further
damage.