Human Diseases and Microorganisms

Human Diseases and Microorganisms

Diseases Caused by Protozoa

Additional Information

• Malignant malaria is pernicious malaria, caused by plasmodium falciparum.

• Charles Leveran discovered the Malaria Parasite, plasmodium, in the blood of the affected person in the year 1880.

• Ronald Ross (1897) confirmed that Malaria is caused by malaria parasite and told that mosquito is the carrier of it.

• Organism that transmits disease from one individual to another is called vector.

• Female culex mosquito is the vector of filariasis.

• Quinine is the effective medicine used in the treatment of malaria obtained from the bark of cinchona tree.

Diarrhea

• The reason of this disease is the presence of internal protozoa namely Entamoeba histolytica which is spread through house flies.

• It causes wounds in the intestine.

• Protein digesting enzyme, Trypsin is destroyed in this. This disease is mostly found in children.

Diseases Caused by Bacteria

Notes:

• In the year 1882, German scientist Robert Koch discovered the bacteria of Cholera and T.B.

• Tuberculosis is also known as white plague.

• Birds flu is a disease that affects human beings and spread through poultry.

• If waste material contaminate the source of drinking water, the most probability to spread the disease is Typhoid.

• Anthrax disease is caused by bacteria.

Vaccine and Vaccination

Definitions

• Vaccine: It is a biological preparation of weakened or killed pathogen which provides active acquired immunity to the body for a particular disease.

• Vaccination: Administration of vaccine to stimulate an individual’s immune system to develop immunity to a pathogen, producing antibodies.

Common Vaccines

• Louis Pasteur discovered the vaccine of Rabies and pasteurization of milk.

• Rotavirus vaccine is used to prevent diarrhea.

• In 1974 the immunization programme introduce in India as ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI)’ by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Diseases Caused by Viruses

Notes:

• AIDS – Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.

• Elisa Test: Test of HIV Virus (AIDS).

• Transmission of HIV occurs through transfusion of contaminated blood.

• The disease which has been eradicated is small pox.

• N1H1 virus is related with swine flu.

• Dengue fever is transmitted by the vector Aedes aegypte.

• Zika disease is caused by a virus transmitted by day time active Aedes mosquito.

• Epidemic diseases are infectious disease affecting many person at the same time.
  Ex – Cholera, Corona, Influenza etc.

• The disease Rubella is caused by virus.

• National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) aim to achieve country wide elimination of Hepatitis ‘C’ by 2030.

• According to WHO, the official name of the virus responsible for Covid-19 disease – SARS-Cov-2.

• Researchers has discovered recently antibody of Nipah Virus in bats from Mahabalaswar cave.

• Probiotics help to provide the beneficial bacteria for healthy digestion.

• Mission COVID Suraksha is to accelerate development of covid vaccine.

• India’s vaccine diplomacy in which Covid-19 vaccine made in India was supplied to other countries – called Vaccine Maitri.

• Giving access to consumption of sugar as source of energy in diet, for the poorest of the poor sections of society has been initiated under Antyodaya Anaa Yojana.

• Covishield, the Covid vaccine of India approved by WHO, is manufactured by Serum Institute, Pune.

• Sulphur drug is antibacterial.

• Common cold is sometime caused by Adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by retrovirus.

Medical Instruments

• Pacemaker: It is small device that is placed in the chest to control abnormal heart beat.

• Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan): Used to investigate abnormal functioning of the body.

• Electro cardiograph (ECG): To find out the abnormality of heart.

• Electroencephalogram (EEG): Use to detect malfunctioning of brain.

• Rhinoscope: Instrument for examining the nose.

• Ultrasonic waves: Used to know the growth of fetus in the womb.

• Concave mirror: Used by dentist to see the image of teeth of a patient.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Use to find out any abnormality in the whole body.

• Auto analyser: Use to examine glucose, urea and cholesterol.

Diseases Caused by Helminths

Filaria

• This disease is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.

• This worm is transmitted by the stings of culex mosquitoes.

• This disease cause swelling in legs, testes and other parts of the body.

• This disease is also known as Elephantiasis.

Diseases Caused by Fungus

Asthma:

• The spores of the fungi, namely Aspergillus fumigates reaches the lungs of the human and constitutes a net like formation, thus obstructs the function of lungs.

Athlete’s foot:

• This disease is caused by the fungi Tenia Pedes. Infectious disease of skin spreading mainly due to the cracking of feet.

Scabies:

• Caused by Acarus scabies. The skin itches and white sports found one the skin.

Baldness:

• Caused by Taenia capitis. Due to this, hair of the head falls.

Ringworm:

• Caused by Trycophyton Lerucosum. Round red spot found on the skin.

Some Other Diseases

Nervous and Mental Disorders

• Paralysis or Hemiplegia: Half of the body is paralyzed due to high blood pressure or lack of blood to brain.

• Allergy: Reaction to dust, smoke, chemicals etc. causing itching, pimples, swelling, eczema.

• Schizophrenia: A mental disease in which imagination is considered truth.

• Epilepsy: Internal disturbance of brain causing seizures.

• Diplopia: Paralysis of eye muscles forming double image.

Respiratory Diseases

• Bronchitis: Inflammation of tubes leading from the windpipe to lungs.

• Colds: Caused by virus resulting in bad throat, headache, watery nose.

Digestive and Abdominal Diseases

• Colic: Severe abdominal pain due to organ spasm.

• Delirium: Mental disturbance due to drugs.

• Hydrophobia: Caused by bite of a mad dog.

• Piles: Due to pressure on rectal veins causing constipation.

• Rheumatism: Fever with joint pain.

Eye Disorders

• Hypermetropia (Long sightedness): Corrected by convex lens.

• Myopia (Short sightedness): Corrected by concave lens.

• Presbyopia: Age-related defect corrected by bifocal lens.

Other Disorders

• Hypokalemia: Deficiency of potassium.

• Migrain: Periodic attack of headache.

• Obesity: Excessive fatness measured by BMI.

• Atherosclerosis: Cholesterol deposition in arteries.

• Arteriosclerosis: Hardening of arteries.

• Uremia: Excess urea in blood.

• Glycosuria: Excess glucose in urine.

• Arthritis: Inflammation of joints.

• Osteoporosis: Low bone mass and fragility.

• Hyperglycemia: High blood glucose.

• Hypoglycemia: Low blood glucose.

• Pneumonia: Acute inflammation of alveoli.

• Emphysema: Loss of alveoli elasticity.

• Cancer: Uncontrolled cell growth.

Types of Cancer

1. Carcinoma: Skin cancer caused by UV rays.

2. Sarconoma: Cancer in connective tissue and bones.

3. Leukaemia: Blood cancer (abnormal leucocytes).

4. Lymphonoma: Cancer in lymph nodes or spleen.

• Chemotharapy: Used in treatment of cancer.

• Haemophilia: Genetic disease preventing blood clotting.

• Bulimia: Overeating disorder.

• Siderosis: Disease by inhalation of iron dust.

• Shortness of breath: Known as Anosmia.

• Loss of smell: Known as Insomnia.

• Eating disorder: Known as Anorexia.

Final Thoughts

Diseases in humans are caused by various microorganisms like protozoa, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and helminths, each affecting different organs and body systems.

Protozoa cause malaria and diarrhea, while bacteria lead to diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid, and cholera. Viruses are responsible for ailments such as AIDS, dengue, influenza, and COVID-19. Fungal infections include ringworm and athlete’s foot, whereas helminths cause filariasis or elephantiasis.

Vaccines and immunization programs play a vital role in preventing many of these diseases. Medical instruments like MRI, ECG, and CT scans help in diagnosis. Understanding these diseases aids in prevention, treatment, and maintaining overall public health.