Microorganisms that cause
disease are called PATHOGENS
Diseases caused by pathogens
Cholera and food
poisoning = caused by
bacteria
Influenza and
chickenpox =
caused by a virus
Athletes foot
= caused by
fungus
Entry of pathogens
NOSE = airborne diseases
MOUTH = contaminated water and food
SKIN = bites, cuts, infected needles
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS = contact
Preventing transmission of disease
FOOD - Cook, freeze, preserve
WATER - Boil it
CONTACT - Avoid it, use a form of barrier e.g. gloves
AIRBORNE DROPLETS - Cover
mouth when we cough, sneeze
Stages of infection
1. Entry into the body (0 days)
2. Rapid growth of pathogen
= incubation period (0-4 days)
3. Production of toxins (0-4 days)
4. Appearance of
symptoms e.g. fever (4-9 days)
Cholera
Vibrio Cholerae bacteria
causes cholera, it lives in water
Sterilising the
water (by
boiling it) can
prevent this
Antiseptics kill or
inhibit the growth of
microorganisms on
the external surfaces
of the body
Antibiotics destroy
bacteria internally
but have no effect
on viruses
There are more cases of food poisoning in the summer
months because warm weather can increase bacteria
reproduction. Barbecues don't usually cook food properly.
Also, there are a lot more flies about in the summer
Haiti - Dysentery, cholera
and food poisoning all
become a major problem
after natural disasters
because
Damage to water supplies/sewage systems
Damage to electrical supplies causing rapid food decay