Aids and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases
A.I.D.S:
● Cause agent: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome also known as Aids
is the most advanced stage of when untreated human
immunodeficiency virus attacks (hiv) the body's white blood cells,
weakening the immune system
● Methods of Transmission: Four ways to spread hiv/aids is by having
sex, sharing needles and syringes, interacting with contaminated blood
and having a pregnancy, giving birth or breastfeeding.
● Treatment: HIV/Aids can not be cured but can be tamed with
treatment. These treatments are Non-nucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), Protease inhibitors (PIs),
Integrase inhibitors, and Entry or fusion inhibitor
Gonorrhoea:
● Cause agent: Gonorrhoea is a std caused by the gonococcus bacteria
that infect urethra, rectum, female reproductive tract, mouth,
throat or eyes
● Methods of Transmission: It is spread by having unprotected vaginal,
oral or anal sex
● Treatment: Uncomplicated gonorrhoea is treated with the antibiotic
ceftriaxone
Genital herpes:
● Cause agent: Genital herpes is a std caused by herpes simplex virus
(HSV)
● Methods of Transmission: This is spread by contact with the infected
area and having sex
● Treatment: Genital herpes has no cure but there are medications
used to ease the symptoms. These medications are Acyclovir
(Zovirax), Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Syphilis:
● Cause agent: Syphilis is a std caused by the bacterium Treponema
pallidum
● Methods of Transmission: It spreads through oral, anal or vaginal sex
through contact with infectious lesions
● Treatment: Syphilis can be cured using different degrees of penicillin
depending on the severity
Methods of Control of STDs:
● Abstaining from sex
● Using condoms when having sex
● Getting tested for STDs
● Getting vaccinated
● Showering before and after sex
● Not share towel and underwear
Social and Economic Implication of having a Disease:
- Some social implications are having to deal with discrimination,
especially if you have HIV/AIDS, and strain your relationships
weather that be family friends or romantic partners
- Some economic implications are the cost of healthcare and losing your
source of income.
Vectors
1) Define:
Vector - a living organism that transfers infectious pathogens
between animals or humans
Pathogen - a organism that can cause disease to its host
2) Types of vectors:
● Biological vectors carries pathogens that can multiply within
their bodies and be delivered to new hosts, usually by biting
● Mechanical vectors picks up an infectious agent on the outside
of its body and transmits it in a passive manner
3) The role of vectors in transmitting diseases is acquiring a pathogen,
multiplying the pathogen and then transmitting it to a host
4) Life history Mosquito and Housefly
➔ Mosquito: Female mosquitoes feed on blood and can acquire and
transfer infections while doing so; their antennae and chemical
sensors use carbon dioxide, body heat, and scents to help them find
their host, and they live for approximately two weeks, allowing the
pathogen to develop inside them. They have four distinct stages of
development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. For mosquito control,
eliminating standing water is critical as it prevents the egg-laying
stage, whereas adding larvicides or natural predators such as fish can
target the larval and pupal stages in water sources. Adult mosquitoes
can be controlled with insecticide-treated nets, repellents, and indoor
residual sprays, as well as environmental interventions that minimise
breeding grounds.
➔ Housefly: Houseflies are important disease vectors because they feed
on decaying debris and human waste, picking up and carrying diseases
with them. Their sticky legs and bodies transport bacteria and
viruses, polluting surfaces and food. Houseflies evolve in four stages:
egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Effective control begins with good
cleanliness to prevent egg-laying by removing breeding areas such as
trash and manure. Larvae can be controlled by keeping waste areas
clean and applying insecticides or biological techniques such as
parasitic wasps. Pupae grow in dry settings, and pesticides can help
prevent their emergence. Adult house flies can be managed with fly
traps, pesticides, and keeping clean settings, as well as employing
screens.
Disease and its impacts on Humans
1) Define these terms
Health - a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
Disease - a state of illness or sickness that produces specific signs
or symptoms
❖ Epidemics can refer to a disease or other specific
health-related behaviour (e.g., smoking) with rates that are
clearly above the expected occurrence in a community or region
❖ Pandemic means a virus covers a wide area, affecting several
countries and populations
❖ Endemic means a disease outbreak is endemic when it is
consistently present but limited to a particular region
2) Pathogenic Diseases - this is caused by parasitic organisms
(pathogens) like viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and worms
Examples:
Malaria, tuberculosis, cholera and influenza
Influenza Treatment:
Rest and treatment for the symptoms
Vaccine for specific strains of the virus
Control:
Prevent over- crowding and exposure to the virus
Prevent droplet infection through coughs, sneezes, etc
Deficiency Diseases - this is caused by a shortage of a nutrient (e.g.
vitamin, mineral) in diet
Examples:
Kwashiorkor (protein), night- blindness (vitamin A), iron- deficiency
anaemia (iron).
Iron- deficiency anaemia
Treatment:
Eat iron rich foods e.g. red meat, green leafy vegetables
Take iron tablets
Control:
Education about a balanced diet, food groups, etc.
Hereditary Diseases - this is caused by genes passed on from one
generation to the next
Examples:
Haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia.
Sickle cell anaemia Treatment:
Avoid situations where oxygen supply is reduced.
No treatment or cure available.
Control:
Genetic counselling
Physiological Diseases - this is caused by a malfunction of the body’s
organs
Examples:
Asthma, hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma and stroke
Diabetes Treatment: Insulin injection/ tablet
Low carbohydrate diet, exercise
Control:
Education on the importance of diet and exercise.
Defence Against Diseases
1) The body’s built-in mechanisms that provides protection against
injuries and disease:
★ Physical Barriers:
Skin
Mucous Membranes
★ Chemical Barriers:
Sweat and Sebum
Stomach Acid
Lysozyme
★ Cellular Defences:
White Blood Cells
Natural Killer Cells
Inflammatory Response
2) Define:
Antibodies - proteins that protect you when an unwanted substance
enters your body
Antigens - any substance that causes the body to make an immune
response against that substance. Antigens include toxins, chemicals,
bacteria, viruses, or other substances that come from outside the
body.
Immunity - the state of being insusceptible or resistant to a noxious
agent or process, especially a pathogen or infectious disease
Immunisation - the process by which a person becomes protected
against a disease through vaccination
Vaccine - a biological preparation formulated to provide acquired
immunity for a particular disease. Usually, vaccines contain a
weakened or killed form of the disease-causing agent, its surface
proteins or its toxins
Antitoxin - an antibody with the ability to neutralise a specific toxin.
Vaccination - the act of introducing a vaccine into the body to
produce protection from a specific disease
Types of Immunity:
➔ Natural Innate - Immunity you are born with. It's the body's first
line of defence against pathogens.
➔ Natural Active Acquired - Immunity developed after exposure to a
disease naturally
➔ Natural Passive Acquired - Immunity passed from one individual to
another naturally.
➔ Artificial Active Acquired - Immunity gained through deliberate
exposure to a pathogen.
➔ Artificial Passive Acquired - Immunity provided by the injection of
antibodies from another person or animal
Drug Use and Abuse
1) Drugs - substances that change a person's mental or physical state.
They can affect the way your brain works, how you feel and behave,
your understanding and your senses.
2) Reasons for using drugs:
3) List common varieties of drugs with example:
- Cannabis
Ex. Dronabinol
- Inhalants
Ex. Paint thinners, hair sprays, and various anaesthetic gases
- Narcotic Analgesics
Ex. Methadone, Vicodin, and oxycontin
- Dissociative Anesthetics
Ex. PCP, its analogs, and dextromethorphan
- Hallucinogens
Ex. Peyote, psilocybin and MDMA
- Central Nervous System Stimulants
Ex. Cocaine, amphetamines, and methamphetamine
- Central Nervous System Depressants
Ex. Alcohol, barbiturates, and anti-anxiety tranquillisers
4) Short-term effect of drugs - Relaxation, indifference to emotional
or physical pain, drowsiness, constipation, slow breathing, and death
Long-term effect of drugs - Gastrointestinal system issues,
Respiratory problems, and Brain and central nervous system effects
5) Define:
Drug use and abuse - The use of illegal drugs or the use of
prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those
for which they are meant to be used, or in excessive amounts
Physical Dependence - A condition in which a person takes a drug
over time, and unpleasant physical symptoms occur if the drug is
suddenly stopped or taken in smaller doses.
Psychological Dependence - The feelings of satisfaction and a desire
to repeat the use of the drug in order to produce pleasure or avoid
pain.
Withdrawal Symptoms - the physical and mental symptoms that a
person has when they suddenly stop or cut back the use of an
addictive substance
Tolerance - When , over time, the same dose of a drug has less
effect on a person's body than it initially did
6) Types of substance abused:
Alcohol
Marijuana
Prescription medicines, such as pain pills, stimulants, or anxiety pills
Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Opiates
Hallucinogens
Inhalants
7) The effects of:
Alcohol - Relaxation, dehydration, loss of consciousness, liver
damage, and heart disease
Marijuana - Euphoria, impaired coordination, cognitive decline,
anxiety, paranoia, and increased appetite
Cocaine - Increased heart rate and blood pressure, euphoria, dilated
pupils, decreased appetite, paranoia and neurological damage
8) The effects of drugs:
Physiological - Depending on the drug it can cause relaxation,
calmness, alertness, or energy
Social - Drug users may become paranoid and aggressive which in turn
cause them to hurt and lose their love ones
Economic - Drugs use affects both the user and its government. The
user might become incarcerated or have to attend rehab which would
prevent them from going to work. Additionally the government has to
enforce Drug policies which costs money.
9) Control/Treatment methods of drug abuse:
Purging your body of the drugs
Attending behaviour counselling
Taking medication to control withdrawal symptoms
Attending in-person support group to maintain sobriety