HUMAN HEALTH

AND DISEASE
Science, Technology & Society
Health
state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being of an individual (WHO, 2025).
Governments have a responsibility for the health of
their peoples which can be fulfilled only by the
provision of adequate health and social measures
(WHO, 2025).

Factors affecting health:

pathogens
organ malfunction
malnutrition
pollution
genetics
 NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Disease not transmitted from one infected
person to the other healthy person
dis - disturbed; ease - comfort
a person is not at comfort
a disturbance in the proper
functioning of the body
Congenital VS Acquired
Pathology
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
easily transmitted from one infected
person to the other healthy person
Major Types of Non-
infectious Diseases
World Health Organization

1. cancer
characterized by uncontrollable growth of
abnormal cells in the body
2. cardiovascular disease
any of the diseases of the heart and blood
vessel
3. chronic respiratory disease
any of the diseases or disorders of the airways
and the lungs that affect human respiration
4. diabetes milletus
impaired ability of the body to produce or
respond to insulin
Infectious Diseases
Routes of Transmission
Contact
1. direct
2. indirect
3. droplet
Non-contact
1. airborne
2. vehicle
3. vector-borne
Aerosol Transmissible
Bacterial Diseases
of Humans
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Mode of Transmission:
bloodstream
sexual activity
Manifestations:
burning sensation when urinating
blood in urine
strong-smelling urine
cloudy urine
Typhoid Fever
enteric fever abdominal tenderness, enlarged spleen
caused by Salmonella typhi or liver
ingestion of large number of organism after 7 to 10 days: rashes, fever reaches
Mode of Transmission: its peak
fecal-oral route diarrhea, bronchitis, confusion
contaminated food and water 2nd week: dehydration, weakness,
Manifestations: intestinal bleeding, perforation
early stages: fever, severe headache, bone and joint infection
constipation, dry cough Treatment:
fever - “step ladder” antibiotics
2 weeks
Diphtheria
Corynebacerium diphtheriae Difficulty in breathing and eventually
Mode of Transmission: respiratory obstruction
droplets from person to person Non-respiratory diptheria (cutaneous)
Manifestations: appears on legs
Pharyngeal and tonsillar diphtheria lesions
formation of false membrane in the Others:
throat neurological
“bull neck” appearance cardiovascular
rapid pulse rate pneumonia
Nasal diphtheria Otitis media
nasal discharge Treatment:
Laryngeal diptheria antitoxin
Hoarseness or loss of voice antibiotics
Croupy cough
Cyanosis
Whooping Cough
Pertussis Treatment:
Bortdella pertussis Erythromycin
involves the respiratory tract
Mode of Transmission:
airborne contact
Manifestations:
Catarrhal stage
fever, dry cough
vomiting with cough
runny nose (infants)
Spasmodic stage (or paroxysmal stage)
violent cough
rapid expulsion of air, high-pitched
whoop
Tetanus
Clostridium tetani
Mode of Transmission:
open wounds
Manifestations:
muscle rigidity, spinal rigidity, firmness of
abdominal muscles
“lockjaw”
painful muscle spasms
cardiac arrhythmias
Treatment:
antibiotics
Viral Diseases
of Humans
Influenza
an acute respiratory illness caused by
influenza viruses A and B
Mode of Transmission:
airborne droplets
Manifestations:
Typically a febrile, pharyngeal, laryngeal,
tracheobronchitis
Runny or stuffy nose
Headache
Myalgia (muscle aches)
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
complications: pneumonia, Myocarditis,
Post-infectious encephalitis
Measles
Rubella virus Congenital Rubella
a mild febrile viral illness with a faint rash a syndrome describing infants born to
Mode of Transmission: mothers affected by rubella during the
airborne droplet first trimester of pregnancy
Manifestations: congenital effects of eyes, heart and
Prodromal Period ears
mild pyrexia growth retardation
slight malaise enlarged liver and spleen
tender lymph nodes thrombocytopaenia
arthralgia or polyarthritis
Rash
fever
headache
runny eyes
Protozoan
Diseases
Amoeba Dysentery
Entamoeba histolytica
an inflammatory disorder of the intestine
resulting in severe diarrhea containing
both mucus and blood in the stool
Mode of Transmission:
fecal-oral route
contaminated food and water
Manifestations:
loose stool/poop
weight loss
stomach tenderness
occasional fever
Treatment:
antibiotics
Giardiasis
Giardia lamblia
Mode of Transmission:
fecal-oral route
contaminated food and water
Manifestations:
loose stool/poop
stomach cramps
bloating
weight loss
fatigue
fever
vomiting
Trypanosomiasis
sleeping sickness
Trypanosoma
Mode of Transmission:
tse-tse fly
blood transfusion
contaminated needles
congenital route
Manifestations:
skin reaction
headache
behavior changes
confusion
sensory disturbances
poor coordination
Kala Azar
Leishmaniasis
Leishmania
sand fly bites
Mode of Transmission:
sand fly bites
Manifestations:
swollen bumps/nodules
ulcers in nose, mouth or throat
fever
swollen abdomen
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii
Mode of Transmission:
ingestion of undercooked meat
animal to human transmission
mother to child transmission
Manifestations:
flu-like symptoms
can affect the brain, eyes or other
organs
Ocular Taxoplasmosis
Fasciolopsiasis
Fasciolopsis buski
Mode of Transmission:
eating aquatic plants
ingesting contaminated water
Manifestations:
intestinal obstruction
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
fever
Schistosomiasis
an acute and chronic parasitic disease
caused by blood flukes (trematode
worms)
Schistosoma
Mode of Transmission:
eating aquatic plants
ingesting contaminated water
Manifestations:
intestinal obstruction
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
fever
Taeniasis
Taenia solium
intestinal infection with tapeworms
Mode of Transmission:
eating aquatic plants
ingesting contaminated water
Manifestations:
intestinal obstruction
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
fever
Sexually Transmitted
Infections
Sexually Transmitted
Infections
bacteria, viruses and parasites
sexual contact (anal, vaginal)
skin-to-skin
non-sexual (blood products, tissue transfer)
mother-to-child tranmission
there are curable and non-curable STIs
sexual dysfunction, infertility, psychological morbidity
Reproductive Tract
Infections
STIS that affect the reproductive tract
Endogenous RTIs (ex. yeast infections)
Iatrogenic RTIs (ex. unsafe abortion)
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

not all RTIs are sexually transmitted

Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A virus that attacks the immune system of the body, specifically the white blood
cells

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

a pattern of devastating infections caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV), attacking and destroying certain white blood cells that are necessary for
the body’s immune system
Route of Infection in Adults
two groups of white blood cells
CD4 + lymphocytes
monocytes/macrophages
HIV attaches itself to the CD4+ lymphocyte, causing
the cell to produce more HIV, leading to the cell being
destroyed.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, tuberculosis, Kaposi’s
sarcoma, other neurological and neuropsychiatric
problems
Route of Infection in
Infants/Children
mother-child transmission
two patterns of disease progression:
children progress rapidly to AIDS
others remain symptom free for years
Symptoms of HIV
Fever
Enlarged lymph glands
Skin rash
Persistent diarrhea
Cough
Severe weight loss
Fatigue
Skin lesions
Loss of appetite
How HIV is transmitted
sexual intercourse
contaminated blood and blood products,
tissues and organs;
contaminated needles, syringes and other
piercing instruments; and
mother-to-child transmission
Sexual intercourse
the probability of HIV infection in the partner
the type of sex act
The amount of virus present in the infected
partner
The presence of other sexually transmitted
diseases in either partner
How HIV is not transmitted
shaking hands, hugging or kissing
coughing or sneezing
visiting a hospital
opening a door
sharing food, eating or drinking utensils
using drinking fountains
using toilets/showers
using public swimming pools
getting a mosquito or insect bite
Preventing sexual Preventing transmission if
transmission of HIV you are infected with HIV
Know your partner Do not donate blood, semen or organs
Understand which sexual acts Inform sexual partners. Avoid
put you at most risk penetration, otherwise always use a
condom.
Seek medical advice or
Do not share syringes or needles.
treatment for STDs
Inform any doctors or dentists consulted.
Consider pregnancy carefully.
Preventing transmission of HIV Cover any cuts or scratches with a
via blood and blood products dressing until healed.
Do not share toothbrushes, razors or
Do not share syringes or needles
sharp instruments.
Avoid invasive, skin-piercing
Seek early and correct treatment for
procedures STDs.
Syphilis
Causative Agent:
T. pallidum
Affected:
Central Nervous System
Manifestations:
Primary Syphilis: single, painless ulcer or chancre at the
site of infection; multiple, painful lesions
Secondary Syphilis: skin rash, mucocutaneous lesions,
lymphadenopathy
Tertiary Syphilis: cardiac involvement, gummatous
lesions, tabes dorsalis, and general paresis
Latent Syphilis
Ocular Syphilis: permanent vision loss
Otosyphilis: tinnitus, vertigo, and sensorineural hearing
loss
Chlamydia
“silent” disease
Causative Agent:
C. trachomatis
Mode of Transmission:
oral, anal, vaginal sex
vaginal childbirth
Affected:
women’s reproductive organs (cervix, urethra, fallopian
tubes)
Manifestations:
mild or absent symptoms
infertility
discharge from penis
lower abdominal pain, low back pain, nausea, fever, pain
during intercourse, bleeding bet. menstrual periods
Gonorrhea
Causative Agent:
N. gonorrhoeae
Mode of Transmission:
oral, anal, vaginal sex
vaginal childbirth
Affected:
reproductive organs
Manifestations:
burning sensation when urinating
yellowish or ocasionally bloody discharge
yellowish white discharge from the penis
painful or swollen testicles
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Herpes
Causative Agent:
Cold Sore Herpes: Herpes simplex type I
Genital Herpes: Herpes simplex type II
Mode of Transmission:
sexual contact
Manifestations:
water blisters, , cuts, or broken skin
itchy, tingling, burning, raw, or painful feeling on your skin
fever, headache, muscle aches
feeling tired, unwell
Genital Herpes: pain in legs or buttocks, swollen &
tender lymph nodes, painful urinating, swollen genitals
Treatment
single dose regimens of antibiotics
bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis)
parasitic STI (trichomoniasis)
antivirals
HIV
herpes
immune system modulators (interferon), antiviral
hepatitis B
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