Human health and diseases
EXERCISES
1. What are the various public health measures, which you would suggest as safeguard against infectious diseases?
Show Answer
Answer
Public health measures are preventive measures which are taken to check the spread of various infectious diseases. These measures should be taken to reduce the contact with infectious agents.
Some of these methods are:
(1) Maintenance of personal and public hygiene:It is one of the most important methods of preventing infectious diseases. This measure includes maintaining a clean body, consumption of healthy and nutritious food, drinking clean water, etc. Public hygienic includes proper disposal of waste material, excreta, periodic cleaning, and disinfection of water reservoirs.
(2) Isolation: To prevent the spread of air-borne diseases such as pneumonia, chicken pox, tuberculosis, etc., it is essential to keep the infected person in isolation to reduce the chances of spreading these diseases.
(3) Vaccination: Vaccination is the protection of the body from communicable diseases by administering some agent that mimics the microbe inside the body. It helps in providing passive immunizationto the body. Several vaccines are available against many diseases such as tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, etc.
(4) Vector Eradication: Various diseases such as malaria, filariasis, dengue, and chikungunya spread through vectors. Thus, these diseases can be prevented by providing a clean environment and by preventing the breeding of mosquitoes. This can be achieved by not allowing water to stagnate around residential areas. Also, measures like regular cleaning of coolers, use of mosquito nets and insecticides such as malathion in drains, ponds, etc. can be undertaken to ensure a healthy environment. Introducing fish such as Gambusia in ponds also controls the breeding of mosquito larvae in stagnant water.
2. In which way has the study of biology helped us to control infectious diseases?
Show Answer
Answer
Various advancements that have occurred in the field of biology have helped us gain a better understanding to fight against various infectious diseases. Biology has helped us study the life cycle of various parasites, pathogens, and vectors along with the modes of transmission of various diseases and the measures for controlling them. Vaccination programmes against several infectious diseases such as small pox, chicken pox, tuberculosis, etc. have helped eradicate these diseases. Biotechnology has helped in the preparation of newer and safer drugs and vaccines. Antibiotics have also played an important role in treating infectious diseases.
3. How does the transmission of each of the following diseases take place?
(a) Amoebiasis
(b) Malaria
(c) Ascariasis
(d) Pneumonia
Show Answer
Answer
| Disease | Causative organism |
Mode of transmission | |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. | Amoebiasis | Entamoeba histolytica |
It is a vector-borne disease that spreads by the means of contaminated food and water. The vector involved in the transmission of this disease is the housefly. |
| b. | Malaria | Plasmodium sp. | It is a vector-borne disease that spreads by the biting of the female Anopheles mosquito. |
| c. | Ascariasis | Ascaris lumbricoides |
It spreads via contaminated food and water. |
| d. | Pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumoniae |
It spreads by the sputum of an infected person. |
4. What measure would you take to prevent water-borne diseases?
Show Answer
Answer
Water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis B, etc. spread by drinking contaminated water. These water-borne diseases can be prevented by ensuring proper disposal of sewage, excreta, periodic cleaning. Also, measures such as disinfecting community water reservoirs, boiling drinking water, etc. should be observed.
5. Discuss with your teacher what does ‘a suitable gene’ means, in the context of DNA vaccines.
Show Answer
Answer
A ‘suitable gene’ refers to a specific DNA segment which can be injected into the cells of the host body to produce specific proteins. This protein kills the specific disease-causing organism in the host body and provides immunity.
6. Name the primary and secondary lymphoid organs.
Show Answer
Answer
(a) Primary lymphoid organs include the bone marrow and the thymus.
(b) Secondary lymphoid organs are the spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, Peyer’s patches of small intestine, and appendix.
7. The following are some well-known abbreviations, which have been used in this chapter. Expand each one to its full form:
(a) MALT
(b) CMI
(c) AIDS
(d) NACO
(e) HIV
Show Answer
Answer
(a) MALT- Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue
(b) CMI- Cell-Mediated Immunity
(c) AIDS- Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
(d) NACO- National AIDS Control Organization
(e) HIV- Human Immuno Deficiency virus
8. Differentiate the following and give examples of each:
(a) Innate and acquired immunity
(b) Active and passive immunity
Show Answer
Answer
(a) Innate and acquired immunity
| Innate immunity | Acquired immunity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | It is a non - pathogen specific type of defense mechanism. |
$\mathbf{1 .}$ | It is a pathogen specific type of defense mechanism. |
| 2. | It is inherited from parents and protects the individual since birth. |
2. | It is acquired after the birth of an individual. |
| 3. | It operates by providing barriers against the entry of foreign infectious agents. |
3. It operates by producing primary and secondary responses, which are mediated by B - lymphocytes and T- lymphocytes. |
|
| $\mathbf{4}$ | It does not have a specific memory. | $\mathbf{4}$ | It is characterized by an immunological memory. |
(b) Active and passive immunity
| Active immunity | Passive immunity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | It is a type of acquired immunity in which the body produces its own antibodies against disease-causing antigens. |
1. | It is a type of acquired immunity in which readymade antibodies are transferred from one individual to another. |
| 2. | It has a long lasting effect. | 2. | It does not have long lasting effect. |
| 3. | It is slow. It takes time in producing antibodies and giving responses. |
3. | It is fast. It provides immediate relief. |
| 4. | Injecting microbes through vaccination inside the body is an example of active immunity. |
4. | Transfer of antibodies present in the mother’s milk to the infant is an example of passive immunity. |
9. Draw a well-labelled diagram of an antibody molecule.
Show Answer
Answer
Structure of an antibody molecule
10. What are the various routes by which transmission of human immunodeficiency virus takes place?
Show Answer
Answer
AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
It has the following modes of transmission:
(a) Unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.
(b) Transfusion of blood from a healthy to an infected person.
(c) Sharing infected needles and syringes.
(d) From an infected mother to a child through the placenta.
11. What is the mechanism by which the AIDS virus causes deficiency of immune system of the infected person?
Show Answer
Answer
AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) via sexual or blood-blood contact. After entering the human body, the HIV virus attacks and enters the macrophages. Inside the macrophages, the RNA of the virus replicates with the help of enzyme reverse transcriptase and gives rise to viral DNA. Then, this viral DNA incorporates into the host DNA and directs the synthesis of virus particles. At the same time, HIV enters helper T- Iymphocytes. It replicates and produces viral progeny there. These newly formed progeny viruses get released into the blood, attacking other healthy helper T-lymphocytes in the body. As a result, the number of T-lymphocytes in the body of an infected person decreases progressively, thereby decreasing the immunity of a person.
12. How is a cancerous cell different from a normal cell?
Show Answer
Answer
| Normal cell | Cancerous cell | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Normal cells show the property of contact inhibition. Therefore, when these cells come into contact with other cells, they stop dividing. |
$\mathbf{1}$ | Cancerous cells lack the property of contact inhibition. Therefore, they continue to divide, thereby forming a mass of cells or tumor. |
| 2.They undergo differentiation after attaining a specific growth. |
2. | They do not undergo differentiation. | |
| 3.These cells remain confined at a particular location. |
$\mathbf{3}$ | These cells do not remain confined at a particular location. They move into neighboring tissues and disturb its function. |
13. Explain what is meant by metastasis.
Show Answer
Answer
The property of metastasis is exhibited by malignant tumors. It is the pathological process of spreading cancerous cells to the different parts of the body. These cells divide uncontrollably, forming a mass of cells called tumor. From the tumor, some cells get sloughed off and enter into the blood stream. From the blood stream, these cells reach distant parts of the body and therefore, initiate the formation of new tumors by dividing actively.
14. List the harmful effects caused by alcohol/drug abuse.
Show Answer
Answer
Alcohol and drugs have several adverse effects on the individual, his family, and the society.
15. Do you think that friends can influence one to take alcohol/drugs? If yes, how may one protect himself/herself from such an influence?
Show Answer
Answer
Yes, friends can influence one to take drugs and alcohol. A person can take the following steps for protecting himself/herself against drug abuse:
(a) Increase your will power to stay away from alcohol and drugs. One should not experiment with alcohol for curiosity and fun.
(b) Avoid the company of friends who take drugs.
(c) Seek help from parents and peers.
(d) Take proper knowledge and counseling about drug abuse. Devote your energy in other extra-curricular activities.
(e) Seek immediate professional and medical help from psychologists and psychiatrists if symptoms of depression and frustration become apparent.
16. Why is that once a person starts taking alcohol or drugs, it is difficult to get rid of this habit? Discuss it with your teacher.
Show Answer
Answer
Drug and alcohol consumption has an inherent addictive nature associated with euphoria and a temporary feeling of well-being. Repeated intake of drugs increases the tolerance level of the body’s receptors, leading to more consumption of drugs.
17. In your view what motivates youngsters to take to alcohol or drugs and how can this be avoided?
Show Answer
Answer
Many factors are responsible for motivating youngsters towards alcohol or drugs. Curiosity, need for adventure and excitement, experimentation are the initial causes of motivation. Some youngsters start consuming drugs and alcohol in order to overcome negative emotions (such as stress, pressure, depression, frustration) and to excel in various fields. Several mediums like television, internet, newspaper, movies etc. are also responsible for promoting the idea of alcohol to the younger generation. Amongst these factors, reasons such as unstable and unsupportive family structures and peer pressure can also lead an individual to be dependant on drugs and alcohol.
Preventive measures against addiction of alcohol and drugs:
(a) Parents should motivate and try to increase the will power of their child.
(b) Parents should educate their children about the ill-effects of alcohol. They should provide them with proper knowledge and counselling regarding the consequences of addiction to alcohol.
(c) It is the responsibility of the parent to discourage a child from experimenting with alcohol. Youngsters should be kept away from the company of friends who consume drugs.
(d) Children should be encouraged to devote their energy in other extra- curricular and recreational activities.
(e) Proper professional and medical help should be provided to a child if sudden symptoms of depression and frustration are observed.
