Human Health: Infectious Diseases, Pathogens, and Prevention

This report provides an overview of human health, focusing on infectious diseases, pathogens, and prevention methods. It defines infectious diseases and pathogens, lists their characteristics, and discusses the ways pathogens are spread. It also explores the importance of personal hygiene and antiseptics in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Additionally, it covers the personal, social, and economic problems related to HIV. The report defines immunity and immunization, explains antibody formation resulting from natural and artificial exposure to antigens, and outlines the effects of using antibodies in disease control. Finally, it discusses the benefits of mass immunization programs and the long-term effects of antibiotic overuse on pathogen resistance.

HUMAN HEALTH
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Define the terms infectious diseases and pathogens.............................................................4
1.2 List the characteristics of virus, bacteria, fungi and Protoctista. .........................................4
2.1 Identify the ways through which pathogens are spread........................................................5
2.2 Discuss the methods through which personal hygiene and use of antiseptics can prevent
the spread of infectious diseases. ...............................................................................................5
2.3 Describe the personal, social, economic problems related to HIV.......................................5
3.1 Define the terms immunity and immunisation. ....................................................................6
3.2 Define antibody formation resulting from both natural and artificial exposure to antigens. 6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
2

INTRODUCTION
Human health can be define as a state of complete mental, physical and social well-being
in order to lead a healthy life. It is a central part of human well-being and happiness. It makes a
crucial contribution to overall economic progression, as being free from any illness and diseases
will lead to a healthy population which eventually makes them more productive (Roenneberg
and Merrow, 2016). The following report is focusing on the nature of micro-organisms.
Furthermore, it will cover the effects of personal behaviour on the spread of infectious diseases.
At last, effect of medical research and development on spread of infectious diseases will be
discussed.
MAIN BODY
1.1 Define the terms infectious diseases and pathogens.
Infectious disease can be define as a medical condition which is caused by number of
pathogenic organisms such as virus, bacteria, fungi and may more. It is a communicable diseases
and can be pass from one person to another directly or indirectly (Wright and Kelly, 2017). Signs
and indications of such sort of diseases are totally depended on the organism causing that
particular infection.
Organisms that cause infectious diseases are known as pathogens. It is basically an
infectious agent that cause illness to its host. They weakens the immune system of the human
body by directly penetrating through the skin, body fluids and many other forms. Some of the
common examples of pathogens are virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
1.2 List the characteristics of virus, bacteria, fungi and Protoctista.
Bacteria, virus, fungi and Protoctista are all infectious agents that cause infectious
diseases to the body. They all poses different characteristics according to their functions. Some
of their characteristics are listed below.
Virus:
 They are consist of a protein and nucleic acid.
 The size ranges from 20-250nm.
 They are dependent on the machinery of host cells.
3

Bacteria:
 They are very small in size ranges between 0.5 to 5 micrometer.
 They have a prokaryotic cell structure.
 Cell wall is made up of proteoglycan.
Fungi:
 They can be multicellular of unicellular.
 Contains a cell wall which is made up of chitin.
Protoctista
 They are eukaryotic organisms.
 They have membrane bound organelles and have nucleus.
2.1 Identify the ways through which pathogens are spread.
There are number of routes through which a pathogen can penetrate into a human body. It
could be through mouth, eyes, nose or may be through some bleeds or wounds. Some of the
infectious agents can be spread through direct connection with body fluids, skin, mucus
membrane and many more (Hausen, 2016). However, there are some of the common vehicles
through which they are spread such as through water, contaminated food, blood and through
vectors. However, thee are three main ways through which they can be spread through person to
person. It could be through air, by direct contact within individuals or through touching surfaces
or objects which are contaminated. Having contaminated food or drinking poor quality of water
can also a reason of ingestion of pathogens.
2.2 Discuss the methods through which personal hygiene and use of antiseptics can prevent the
spread of infectious diseases.
Personal hygiene can be define as applications which are generally perform by the
individuals in order to protect their health conditions and to maintain a healthy life (Baum,
2016). There are number of personal hygiene methods that can be use by individuals in order to
prevent infectious diseases. Some of the methods are given here.
 Use hand sanitizers and keep the hands clean as human beings perform number of
activities through their hands. Thus, it is important to keep the hands clean.
 Use antiseptics in case of any wounds or bleeding and make proper use of bandage to
prevent the spread of infection.
 Assure that all the food items has been placed in a clean place without any contamination.
4

 Dispose the waste properly.
2.3 Describe the personal, social, economic problems related to HIV.
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is a virus that directly impacts on
immune system of the human body and makes it unable to fight with infectious diseases.
Individuals who are going through some mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, sexual or
physical abuses poses a higher risk of getting HIV infection (Markowiak and Śliżewska, 2017).
Such problems are consider as personal problems.
Social problems associated with HIV are low financial status, unemployment, need for
shelter, lack of support from communities and many more. However, economical problems with
HIV are less number of healthcare professionals, low level of technology, low level of
productivity.
3.1 Define the terms immunity and immunisation.
Immunity can be define as the ability of an individual to fight against number of
infectious diseases. It consist of both specific as well as non specific components. Basically there
are two types of immunity which is active and passive. When number of antibodies transfers
through on person to another by means of transfusion is known as passive immunity. Whereas,
involvement of B cells and Cells to fight against diseases is consider as active immunity.
Immunisation can be define as a method of protecting or making a person immune
through number of infectious diseases.
3.2 Define antibody formation resulting from both natural and artificial exposure to antigens.
Antibodies are the immunoglobulin proteins which is secreted by B- lymphocytes. When
any antigen gets binds to the surface of B-cells, it makes the cells to divide and develop into a set
of identical cells known as clone (Kumar and et.al., 2017). Then this develop B cells secrete
number of antibodies in the blood stream. However, artificial antibodies can be formed in in-
vitro conditions by completely eliminating the process of forming it naturally. They can be
produce by conducting some experiments in laboratory conditions and providing optimum
temperature.
3.3 Otline the effects of use of antibodies in the control of a disease.
Antibodies are responsible for fighting against any pathogen which enters into a human
body. It act as a immune system scouts. Their main role is to analyse the antigens, bound to them
5

and find out the same antigen in the immune system so that they could be able to destroy it
(Steffan and et.al., 2018). Antigens could be virus, bacteria or other certain chemicals. It is
important to know that each antibody is specific to only one antigen. However, even after tha
infection has been eliminated, antibody still reminds of it. So that next time if the same antigen
tries to invad ethe immune system, they are ready to fight against them. Antibody will be
instantly attach to the antigen and make T cells and phagocytes to destroy it.
3.4 List the effects of mass immunization programes.
Mass immunizations can be refer to as providing immunizations to a large propotion of
population at one or more than one location within a short period of time. The major objective of
this program is to improve the health of population.
 It protects individuals from getting serious illnesses and help to prevent diseases such as
paralysis of limbs, brain damage, polio, amputaion of arm, hearing problems and many
more.
 It also prevents some major disease within population such as mumps, measles,
whoophing chough which all are consider as a serious threat for a human health.
 Mass immunization program reduce the number of deaths which occur every year due to
occurance of infectious diseass.
 It is one of the major public health achievments.
3.5 Outline the long term effects of overuse of antibiotics on pathogen resistance.
There could be some serious effects on the human body for the overuse of antibotics for
pathogen resistance. Misuse or overuse of antibiotics can be result in formation of antibiotic
resistance bacteria. Taking a large amount of antibiotics very often or may be for some wrong
reasons can change pathogens in a way that antibiotics stops to work against them. This process
is also called antibiotic resistance or bacterila resistance (Watson and et.al., 2018). Due to this
overuse of antibiotics, there are some bacteria who are now resistant to even powerful antibiotics
that are available. IT is a majorgrowing problem which is increasng thse days. Bacteria becom
eto multiply throughout the body as antibiotics loose the capacity to fight against them.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it can be concluded that health play a most crucial role in the life
of a human being. Health is basically a condition of being free from any sort of illness or
6

diseases. However, there are number of [pathogens like virus, bacteria, fundi that can be resulted
in reduce health conditions by directly penetrating in the body through different modes.
REFERENCES
Books and journals
Baum, F., 2016. The new public health. (No. Ed. 4). Oxford University Press.
7

Hausen, B.M., 2016. Woods injurious to human health: a manual. Walter de Gruyter GmbH &
Co KG.
Kumar, P., and et.al., 2017. Aflatoxins: a global concern for food safety, human health and their
management. Frontiers in microbiology. 7. p.2170.
Markowiak, P. and Śliżewska, K., 2017. Effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on
human health. Nutrients. 9(9). p.1021.
Roenneberg, T. and Merrow, M., 2016. The circadian clock and human health. Current biology.
26(10). pp.R432-R443.
Wright, S.L. and Kelly, F.J., 2017. Plastic and human health: a micro issue?.Environmental
science & technology. 51(12). pp.6634-6647.
Steffan, J.J.,and et.al., 2018. The effect of soil on human health: an overview. European journal
of soil science. 69(1). pp.159-171.
Watson, R.R., and et.al., 2018. Polyphenols: Prevention and Treatment of Human Disease.
Academic press.
8

9

10