Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Diseases in Living Organisms
Diseases in Living Organisms
Grade: 105
1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank my teacher for assigning this project. It has helped my research skills
significantly and I have learnt a lot from doing this project. I also want to thank my parents
for providing me with the necessary tools and equipment needed to carry out this research.
Most importantly, I would like to thank God for giving me the knowledge and the strength to
be able to do this project.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Page
Introduction 4
Pathogenic Diseases 7
A.I.D.S Poster 10
Gonorrhoea Poster 11
Drug Abuse 12
Current Trends 15
Conclusion 28
Bibliography 29
3
INTRODUCTION
A disease is a condition in which the health of an organism is impaired. Diseases can
affect people not only physically, but also mentally, as contracting and living with a disease
can alter the affected person’s lifespan, quality of life and their ability to interact with and
contribute to their society. Diseases may cause economic loss by having a significant impact
on years or productive life, increasing personal health care cost and an increased burden on
the government. Plant diseases are well known to reduce the food available to humans by
ultimately interfering with crop yields and yield quality. This can result in inadequate food to
humans or lead to starvation and death in worst cases as we now see in places like Haiti,
Sudan and Yemen. Zoonotic animal diseases can directly infect humans, as we see with the
Covid-19 pandemic. The loss of human life can be catastrophic, as in the case of the “black”
plague (25 million deaths) and the “Spanish” influenza (500 million deaths). Animal diseases
can also cause negative indirect medical effects in terms of nutrition, as meat shortages may
occur with the result being protein and fat soluble vitamin deficiencies.
Health has been defined by the World Health Organization as ‘complete physical, mental and
social well- being and not just the absence of disease or infirmity.
that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct
Treatment refers to steps taken by a diseased person or their health care provider aimed at
alleviating the symptoms of or removing entirely a disease from the body. Treatment might
include the use of drugs, surgery, lifestyle and dietary changes or counselling and
psychotherapy. Successful treatment of a disease is more likely when it’s done in the context
4
Control can be defined as an action, method, or law that limits the amount, prevalence of or
Vectors are living organisms that spread diseases by carrying the pathogen from one host to
another and can include small animals such as bats and dogs or insects such as ticks and
mosquitoes.
Signs and symptoms are abnormalities that can indicate a potential medical condition.
Symptoms are said to be subjective and are what are felt by the sick person such as a fever,
sore throat, cough, weakness and joint pains. Signs are objective measures ascertained by
your health care provider such as your temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood
pressure.
Pathogenic diseases are caused by pathogens such as viruses (HIV, Covid-19), bacteria
(Yersinia Pestis causes plague), fungi (Candida Albicans causes yeast infections), protozoa
(Ameobiasis) and worms (Hookworms and Round Worms). Pathogenic diseases are also
known as communicable diseases and can pass from person to person directly or via a vector.
supportive treatment such a giving fluids and rest, treating symptom such as reducing pain
with drugs such as paracetamol. For control and prevention of pathogenic diseases we use
vaccines (MMR, BCG, and DPT), vector control measures such as mosquito eradication,
diseases are: kwashiorkor (protein deficiency), night blindness (Vitamin A deficiency), and
5
Eating a balanced and nutrient rich diet are necessary for preventing and treating the disease.
The specific nutrient that the person is deficient in the form of a supplement can also be used
Hereditary diseases are caused by genes being passed on from one generation to the next or
in other words from parents to their children. Examples or hereditary diseases are:
haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell and anaemia. No cures are yet available for most of
these disease but advances in genetics are making cures more likely. Treatment for the
symptoms and complications are available such as pain medications for sickle cell patients
and insulin for type 1 diabetics. Genetic counselling for couples planning to become parents
is a control measure.
Physiological diseases are caused by a malfunction of the body’s cells, tissues, organs and
systems. These diseases are sometimes referred to as chronic non communicable diseases.
Examples of physiological diseases are: asthma, hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma and stroke.
Lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and exercise, medications such and Insulin
injections/ tablet and low carbohydrate diet with adequate rest are treatments for this type of
disease. Education on the importance of diet and exercise, weight control, the harmful effects
6
PATHOGENIC DISEASES
A pathogen, or disease- causing organism, lives on or inside an organism, the host, causing it
to be diseased or sick. Pathogens can move from one host to another, or infect another
organism in a number of ways. Examples of pathogens are: viruses, bacteria, fungi and
protozoa.
Mosquitoes are the vectors that carry the dengue virus, the organism responsible for the
dengue fever. All mosquitoes go through four distinct stages during their life cycle: Egg
hatches when exposed to water. Larva “wriggler” lives in water; molts several times; most
species surface to breathe air. Pupa “tumbler” does not feed; stage just before emerging as
adult. In the first stage the control method remains unproven; mosquito management
7
professionals often consider the next stage of development the best option in mosquito
control efforts. In the larva stage, the use of larvicides has proven very effective in breaking
mosquito larvae thereby reduces the risk to non- target organisms. In the pupa stage pupacide
is used, a highly refined mineral oil thinly applied to the surface of the water where pupae are
present thereby suffocating them. In the adult stage, adulticicdes minimizes the impact on
Flies and other insects carry viruses and bacteria that cause various diseases for example
gastroenteritis. The house fly life cycle closely mirrors that of most insects: a basic cycle that
begins with an egg, then develops through a larva phase, a pupa phase, and finally, into an
adult. The first step in house fly control is exclusion and sanitation. After these measures, you
can use insecticides that come in residual forms, aerosols, fogging materials and baiting
Rat fleas are the vector for the bacteria Yersinia Pestis that causes the disease Bubonic
Plague. The flea remains a pupa from one week to six months changing in a process called
metamorphosis. When a flea emerges, it begins the final cycle, called the adult stage. A flea
can now suck blood from host and mate with other fleas. Control is carried out by applying
Rats carry the leptospirae bacteria that causes the disease leptospirosis. From birth to adults,
rats take about three weeks to mature and begin fending for themselves. The rodents reach
sexual maturity in about five weeks and begin mating soon after to produce the next
generation to start the rat life cycle over again. Inspection is an important first step in getting
rid of rats. Once you know the location of the rats, you can set traps or place bait. Exclusion
is an important rodent control technique. It will get rid of the rats by making it difficult for
8
them to enter the home or structure. Having a clean environment with regular and proper
garbage disposal and solid waste management is essential the prevent rat infestation.
Anopheles. Female mosquitoes take blood meals for egg production, and these blood meals
are the link between the human and mosquito hosts in the parasite life cycle. Gastroenteritis is
caused by the ingestion of viruses, certain bacteria, or parasites. Food that has spoiled may
9
A.I.D.S
10
GONORRHOEA
11
DRUG ABUSE
harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.
Physiological effects of drug abuse vary by the type of drug. Stimulants, such as
amphetamines, can delay sleep and elevate a person’s mood, but high amounts can cause
nervousness and anxiety in the user. Depressants, by contrast, impair mental and physical
functions, and slow neural activity in the brain. With some drugs, especially narcotics such as
opium or heroin, the body can build a tolerance in which it adjusts to the drug’s presence.
Over time, the body requires higher doses to maintain the same effect. When an abuser stops
taking the drug, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling weak or sick.
Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed for short term anxiety and sleep problems. When
taken at low doses tolerance does not develop to a great extent, but when people use large
amounts their tolerance can develop rapidly and there is a danger of dosage increase and
toxicity.
12
The effects of cocaine are similar to amphetamines and crack in that they create physical and
mental arousal. When cocaine is snorted the effect is almost immediate and then peaks and
fades within 15-30 minutes. This often results in users repeating their use almost every 20
Consuming too much alcohol is linked to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, trouble
pumping blood through the body, blood clots, stroke, cardiomyopathy (sagging, stretched
heart muscle), or heart attack. Excessive alcohol use, both directly and through malnutrition,
The social effects of drug abuse begin with abusers and their families. Substance abuse has
been a factor in divorce, family violence and related problems. The social effects extend into
the larger society, as well, such as through crimes committed by drug abusers to get money
needed to feed drug habits. Further, the lucrative nature of drug trafficking fuels crime as
rival drug gangs fight for control of the traffic. The U.S. government, for example, noted
13
increased drug related violence on the U.S.- Mexico border and citied drug gangs in these
Reports by UNOCP have pointed out that the economic effects of drug abuse can be
measured in two ways. One is the cost of government dug enforcement policies. Nations
around the world spend billions yearly on law enforcement and other efforts aimed at drug
interdiction. Because a central principle in economics is that resources are scarce and require
decisions about how to allocate them, it follows that money spent on drug enforcement is
money spent on education, public infrastructure, or give to the public in the form of lower
taxes. Another economic effect from drug abuse is the lost human productivity, such as lost
wages and decreased production that results from illnesses and premature deaths related to
drug abuse.
14
CURRENT TRENDS
Pathogenic Diseases
Pathogenic diseases are caused by organisms such as, viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
Some pathogenic diseases are contagious meaning they can be passed from one person to the
other. Some are transmitted by insects and animals while others can be caught by eating
contaminated and spoiled food or water. Most pathogenic diseases can be prevented using
vaccines or practicing good hygiene. Signs and symptoms are methods the body uses to
communicate health problems and trigger the search for a solution. Some signs and
symptoms of pathogenic diseases are: fever, diarrhoea, fatigue, muscle aches, coughing etc.
Most pathogenic diseases are contracted by coming in contact with a person or animal with
the disease. Diseases can also be contracted indirectly, for example, touching a doorknob that
an infected person carrying germs on their hands touched. Some germs and bacteria are
carried by insects that pass on the disease. These insects are known as vectors. The
consumption of contaminated food and water can also cause pathogenic diseases. This
mechanism can cause the spread of a disease from person to person coming from just one
15
source. Pathogenic diseases can be contracted by anyone, but persons with a very weak
immune system are more vulnerable to catching the disease. Some pathogenic diseases can
have complications that can become life threatening. For example, a person who has chicken
pox can develop shingles later in life. Some prevention measures that can be used to prevent
exposure to pathogenic diseases are: wash your hands regularly, get vaccinated, to stay home
when feeling ill, prepare food safely, refrain from the sharing of personal items like your
16
Deficiency Diseases
A deficiency disease occurs when the body doesn’t absorb or get from food the necessary
amount of nutrients. Worldwide the most widespread nutrient deficiency disease is iron
deficiency. Iron deficiency can lead to anaemia. Symptoms of anaemia are: fatigue, heart
racing, shortness of breath and weakness. When you are iron deficient your body makes less
red blood cells. The red blood cells that are produced are paler and smaller than regular,
healthy red blood cells. A treatment for this is to eat foods that are rich in iron, for example:
green leafy vegetables and red meat. Iron tablets are also advised to be taken.
According to the World Health Organization, vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of
preventable blindness in children. Pregnant women deficient in vitamin A also have a higher
mortality rate. A good source of vitamin A is beta carotene, it is converted to vitamin A in the
body when needed. For new born babies the best source of vitamin A is breast milk.
17
Treatment for vitamin A deficiency is eating foods rich in vitamin A, such as: milk, eggs,
Another common deficiency disease occurs with vitamin B-1. A lack of this vitamin can
cause: weight loss, fatigue, confusion and short-term memory loss. Vitamin B-1 deficiency
can also lead to nerve and muscle damage and can affect the heart. In the United States,
vitamin B-1 deficiency is often seen in persons with excessive alcohol use. Vitamin B-1 can
also cause dementia. A prevention measure for this is to consume foods high in vitamin B-1,
these include: eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, wheat germ and pork.
According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, about 1 billion persons does not get enough
vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and helps the body maintain the right
levels of calcium in order to regulate the development of teeth and bones. Vitamin D is only
18
found naturally in a few foods. These are: fish liver oils, fatty fish, mushrooms, egg yolks and
liver. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. According to the NIH, research suggests that 5
to 30 minutes of midday sun exposure twice a week on the face, arms, neck, or back can
provide you with enough vitamin D. A prevention measure for vitamin D deficiency is to
consume foods rich in vitamin D and get enough exposure to the sun.
19
Hereditary Diseases
Hereditary disease is a disease or disorder that is inherited genetically. They are passed on
malformations (AVMs), to develop between arteries and veins. The most common locations
affected are the nose, lungs, brain and liver. HHT is a genetic disorder that you inherit from
your parents. Its severity can vary greatly from person to person, even within the same
family. Signs and symptoms of HHT are: nosebleeds, iron deficiency (anaemia), shortness of
breath, headaches and seizures. Treatments for HHT include: medications and surgical
procedures. Preventative measures that can be taken are: lifestyle changes and home
remedies.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive
system and other organs in the body. CF signs and symptoms may vary with each patient
depending on the severity of the disease. Even in the same patient, symptoms may worsen or
improve as time passes. Persons with cystic fibrosis have high salinity level in their sweat and
it can be tasted when kissed. Some common symptoms of CF include: a persistent cough,
20
wheezing, lack of ability to do exercises, stuffy nose, poor weight gain and growth, intestinal
blockage and chronic or severe constipation. Children need to inherit one copy of the gene
from each parent in order to have the disease. If children only inherit one copy then they
won’t develop cystic fibrosis, but their gene will still be passed down to their children. A
prevention measure is, if you and your partner have close relatives who have CF you may get
blood cell disorder in which there isn’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen
throughout your body. Normally, the flexible, red blood cells move easily through blood
vessels. In sickle cell, the red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescents moons. These
sticky cells get stuck in small blood vessels which can stop or block blood flow and oxygen
to parts of your body. Signs and symptoms of sickle cell usually begin about 5 months of age.
Symptoms include: anaemia, episodes of pain, swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections,
delayed growth and puberty and problems with vision. Sickle cell is caused by a mutation in
the gene that tells your body to make the iron-rich compound that makes red blood cells and
enables them to carry oxygen in your body. Both mother and father must pass down the
defective gene for the child to be affected. If a person carries and sickle cell trait, seeing a
genetic counsellor can help you understand the risks of having children and them developing
the disease.
21
Haemophilia is a rare disorder in which your blood doesn’t clot normally because it lacks
sufficient blood-clotting proteins. If a person has haemophilia, they may bleed for a longer
time after an injury than the normal time if the blood clotted normally. The greatest health
concern for a person with haemophilia is internal bleeding which can damage your organs
and tissues and can be life-threatening. Haemophilia is a genetic disorder and can be treated
with the regular replacement of the specific clotting factor that is reduced. Signs and
symptoms of haemophilia depend on the level of your clotting factors. Some common
symptoms are: unexplained and excessive bleeding from injuries, cuts, after surgery or dental
work, many large or deep bruises, unusual bleeding after vaccinations, pain, swelling and
tightness of joints, blood in urine or stool and strange nosebleeds. Other treatments that are
22
Physiological Diseases
A physiological disease is a condition in which the organs of the body malfunction causing
illnesses. Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce
extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and can trigger coughing or wheezing when
you breathe out and shortness of breath. For some, asthma is a just a minor nuisance while for
others it is a major problem and affects their daily life and may lead to a life-threatening
asthma attack. Asthma cannot be cured however the symptoms can be controlled. Some of
these symptoms include: shortness of breath, tightness of chest and pain and wheezing when
exhaling. It isn’t clear why some people get asthma and some don’t. While there is no
prevention measure for asthma there are ways to help you live a normal life and avoid asthma
attacks. These ways are: to follow your asthma action plan, get vaccinated for influenza and
pneumonia, identify and avoid asthma triggers and take medication as prescribed.
23
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar
(glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it’s an important source of energy for the
cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It’s also your brain’s main source of fuel. The
underlying cause of diabetes varies by type but, no matter what type of diabetes you have it
can lead to excess sugar in the blood. Excess sugar in the blood can lead to major and serious
health problems. Chronic diabetes conditions include diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2.
Diabetes symptoms vary on how much your sugar level is elevated. Common symptoms of
diabetes include: increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight
loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores and frequent infections. The exact cause of
diabetes type 1 is unknown. What is known is that your immune system attacks the insulin
making cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being
transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. In type 2 diabetes, your cells
become resistant to the action of insulin, and the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to
overcome the resistance. Instead of moving into the cells where it is needed for energy, sugar
builds up in your bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. However, the same
lifestyle practices that help treat type 2 diabetes can also help with the treatment of type 1.
These include: eating healthy foods, getting more physical exercise and losing excess pounds.
that can damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is
24
often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye. Glaucoma is one of the leading
causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. The signs and symptoms of glaucoma are:
patchy blind spots in your vision frequently, severe headache, eye pain, nausea and vomiting,
blurred vision, halos around lights and eye redness. If left untreated glaucoma will eventually
cause blindness. Glaucoma is a result of damage to the optic nerve. As this nerve deteriorates,
blind spots develop in your vision fields. Types of glaucoma include: open-angle glaucoma,
glaucoma. These self- care steps can help you prevent glaucoma or slow down the progress:
getting regular dilated eye examinations, knowing your family’s eye health history,
exercising safely, taking prescribed eye drops regularly and wearing eye protection. The
damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, however regular check-ups and treatment
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted or reduced,
preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Signs and symptoms of strokes
include: trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying, paralysis or numbness of
the face, arm or leg, problems seeing in one or both eyes, headaches and trouble walking.
There are two main causes of a stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or
bursting of a blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). Preventative measures for strokes are
having a healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle recommendations include: controlling high blood
pressure, lowering the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in diet, quitting tobacco use,
managing diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables,
exercising regularly and avoiding illegal drugs. Treatments for strokes include: blood thinners
25
Animal diseases can have a large social and economic impact. The diseases that bring about
the most effects are the highly contagious diseases, which could cause high fatality rates
among livestock and have the chance of infecting humans. When animals are infected with
diseases they get sick and most of the times die. According to YouGov 68% of Americans eat
meat. There is a constant high demand for meat around the world so when animals get sick
and die the farmers loose income this can have a ripple effect on them and their employees
and families.. It also leaves humans less to eat because meat production is decreased and
there would not be enough meat for everyone. A lot of famers nowadays raise livestock as a
living, so when their livestock gets infected with diseases and die it puts the famers out of
It is very expensive to control diseases and can be extremely bad for economies. Money has
to be spent on equipment like: machines used in hospitals, face masks, hand sanitizers,
nebulizers etc. The government also has to buy a vaccine if available to be used as a control
measure. Millions of dollars have been spent over the years trying to control and get rid of
diseases in countries and some countries economy are still trying to recover from such
experiences. Economic issues that would be implicated are that people would be put of jobs
and businesses will go bankrupt and shut down which means less tax for the government. A
lot of people will be jobless and unable to take care of their families.
When a contagious and life-threatening disease out breaks in an area, the everyday life of
people will change. The social implications would be large in the sense that people will not
be able to carry on their everyday lives as they used to. Over- crowding of areas would not be
allowed for example: going to school and the workplace. Persons would not be able to come
into close contact with each other without observing the safety precautions to ensure
26
protection for themselves and others. Sanitization would be advertised and advised a lot more
When a disease infects crops of a farmer, the farmer will lose income. If the disease kills off
the whole crop the farmer could be looking at 1 year of poverty. In an agricultural area
incomes could drop and shops and business could face lower profits. Diseases in plants could
cause food shortages; smaller amounts of crops will be produced. This will have a significant
economic impact as the decrease in food will lead to a raise in the price. Some families will
be unable to afford the new price and that could possibly lead to malnutrition and starvation.
Animal diseases have been known to adapt and affect humans. These diseases could turn out
to be contagious and dangerous and can lead to a pandemic. Many lives can be lost during
this pandemic.
27
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I have learnt that there are four types of diseases; namely pathogenic,
deficiency, hereditary and physiological. Vectors carry the pathogens from host to host in
order to transmit pathogenic diseases. Deficiency diseases are caused by not eating the right
amount of nutrients that the body needs. Hereditary diseases are developed by the passing
down of defective genes from parent to child. Physiological diseases are caused by the body
malfunctioning.
Signs and symptoms are what help the doctor diagnose the illness that the patient is
experiencing. When the disease is diagnosed appropriate treatment can be issued to the
patient as seen fit by the doctor attending to them. Different control measures can be used by
Drug abuse has a large impact socially, physiologically and economically on the society.
Most people tend to abuse drugs for personal pleasure and relief of pain or misery, the effect
does not last long so the person continues to abuse the drug until they are addicted and find it
impossible to stop. Drug abuse has been proven to be detrimental to the human life.
Diseases; whether plant or animal, have a very large effect on society and how we live our
everyday lives. If a disease gets out of control and causes a pandemic, lots of lives will be lost
and the normal everyday life as we know will be no longer, until a cure or vaccine is found.
Education on the different types of diseases and prevention measures are very important and
help us protect ourselves and our loved ones from getting infected.
28
BIBLIOGRAPHY
August 6, 2020
August 9, 2020
classroom.synonym.com
www.who.int
www.gov.je
www.alcohol.org
29
August 23, 2020
www.longdom.org
30