Controlling the Spread of Disease
✅ Paper Type: Free Essay | ✅ Subject: Biology |
✅ Wordcount: 2229 words | ✅ Published: 29th Mar 2018 |
Cholera
- Cholera is caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae, which contaminates food and drinking water
- This bacterium infects the small intestines with a toxin called CTX , which in turn causes severe diarrhoea
- Normally present in coastal waters, attaching to crustaceans known as copepods which are found in plankton rich environments
(WordPress, 2014).
- This bacteria does not always make people ill however, this bacteria may come out in stools, which can contaminate the water supply
- When vibrio cholerae enters the human body toxic poisons are released, causing diarrhoea
- The nutrients in the water enables provides ideal condition for the bacteria to multiply
Prevention
- To prevent contracting cholera use bottled or boiled water when drinking and preparing food and drink
- Thoroughly washing hands on a regular basis
Malaria: a potentially life threatening disease
The life cycle of malaria
- Malaria plasmodium parasites have two hosts; female anopheles females and humans
- Female anopheles mosquitos infected by malaria parasites Inject sporozites into humans whilst feeding on their blood
- Sporozites then infect cells within the liver; transforming into thousands of merozoites.
- These merozites travel out of the liver and then invade the red blood cells; where they multiply forming new merozites
- Red blood cells then burst; this releases merozites which go on to infect other cells
- Whilst invading red blood cells merozites can develop into gametocytes; which is the sexual reproductive stage.
- Gametocytes are sucked up by mosquitos when they are feeding; fusing with gametes to make zygotes in the mosquitos gut
- Zygotes become fertilised and form motile ookinete; which turn into oocyst, these then multiply producing thousands of sporozoites
- These then move into the salivary gland of the mosquito after around a week; ready to infect humans
So what can be done to protect against malaria?
- The use of mosquito nets are commonly used to stop mosquitos from biting as well as the use of insect repellent
- Some medicines are given to people to help prevent the risk of contracting malaria: doxycycline, proguanil with atovaquone, mefloquine; some of which need to be taken for weeks after return
(disqus, 2014).
Influenza
- Influenza (flu) is a common viral infection which attacks the nose, throat and lungs (respiratory system)
- Influenza is air borne and can be transmitted between people if someone has the virus and sneezes, others can inhale this
- The virus can also be present on objects an infected person has touched
- Cytokines are produced when the innate immune system starts to respond to the threat these induce responses such as the inflammatory response
Lifecycle
- The flu enters its host and then invades cells within the respiratory system
- The virus uses its host cell to replicate its DNA; forcing the cell to make copies of the virus
- This triggers the body’s immune response which sends white blood cells to the area of infection
- If not stopped the virus can then break free from the host cell allowing it to infect other cells around the body
(fitbuff.com, 2009).
Prevention
- Vaccinations are offered to protect against influenza but are not one hundred percent effective
- Washing hands regularly prevents the spread of infection
Athlete’s foot (trichophyton)
- Trichophyton rubrum causes tinea pedis (athletes foot) which feeds off keratin in the upper layer of the skin, hair and nails
- Trichophyton rubrum form part of the dermatophytes which is a group of fungi
- Within four to ten days symptoms appear as a result of body’s inflammatory response; resulting in a red rash on the skin
- The blistered and itchy skin occurs as a result of the trichophyton reproducing on the skin, particularly they like moist places such as in-between the toes
- If the fungus infection is not treated it can spread to other areas of the feet such as the toe nails
- This fungi can be passed from person to person and is prevalent in public showers and swimming pools, where skin particles are left around
Symptoms
- Skin between the toes can burn and become itchy
- Early treatment is recommended
- If untreated in the first instance it can cause the skin to become cracked and infected further with bacteria
- The fungus infection may cause an unpleasant smell
Prevention
- Thoroughly washing feet daily and making sure all areas are completely dry before putting socks on
- Not wearing socks and shoes where possible to allow air to circulate around the feet
- Changing socks regularly, this is because fungus can multiply on flakes of skin
Bibliography
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References
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WordPress. (2014). Liu Lab Research. Available: http://research.pomona.edu/jane-liu/liu-lab-research/. Last accessed 24/9/2014
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