It is a microscopic organism consisting of genetic material. They cannot reproduce without a host cell. Several human diseases are caused by viruses which include:- smallpox, measles, the common cold, chickenpox, hepatitis, HIV, cold sores, shingles to name but a few. Viruses can spread from person to person, and by exchange of salvia, coughing, sneezing. Fungi Fungi are skin infections caused by dermatophytes and yeasts, which are groups of fungi that are normally harmless.
1.2 Identify common illness and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Viral and bacterial infection Viruses: Viruses can affect many different parts of the body or more than one body system at the same time for example a runny nose, sinus congestion, cough or body ache. Viruses can cause the classic common cold or even the flu, much
Other fungi can cause illness. One example is Candida — a yeast that can cause infection. Candida can cause thrush — an infection of the mouth and throat — in infants and in people taking antibiotics or who have an impaired immune system. Fungi are also responsible for skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and ringworm. A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism to the detriment of the host organism.
Common symptoms are acral necrosis of the extremities (such as the toes, fingers, lips and tip of the nose), high fever, nausea, vomiting, and breathing difficulty. Left untreated, Yersinia pestis can multiply rapidly in the bloodstream, possibly causing septicemic plague or even creep towards the lungs causing pneumonic plague. In order to diagnose bubonic plague, testing in the laboratory is required. Identification of the bacterium Yersinia pestis culture in a sample of serum from a patient’s blood is used for confirmation of the
1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites The most common illnesses and infections that occur due to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are Dioreah, Vomiting, Influenza, Nail infections, Tick bites, Colds, Skin Conditions, Digestive Problems ( Parasites - Worms ) and in some cases, Death. 1.3 Describe what is meant by “Infection” and “Colonisation” As defined by : www.freedictionary.com INFECTION Invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a bodily part or tissue, which may produce subsequent tissue injury and progress to overt disease through a variety of cellular or toxic mechanisms. This means that Infection is the process of infecting or being infected. COLONISATION A mass of microorganisms in a culture that originates from a single cell. This means that when either a Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites in the single form, gather and join to make one mass of either Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites.
This bacterium is also a facultative anaerobe meaning it can grow with or without oxygen. The bacterium is found most commonly in animals such as rats, fleas, lice, chipmunks, etc. Y. pestis is most commonly transferred through bites from affected animals, direct contact with infected tissue or body fluids, or inhaling infected droplets. The best way to avoid the plague would be to stay away for any animal that has potential for having Yersinia pestis If proper safety measures are not taken and a human ends up with the plague they would have general symptoms such as inflamed lymph nodes, fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and weakness. If left untreated the symptoms could worsen and you could be left with septicemia, food poisoning like symptoms, bleeding from under the skin, in the urine, from the mouth and nose, shock, kidney failure, breathing problems.
It begins at the site of a break in the skin (a surgical or non-surgical wound). In order for someone to contract necrotizing fasciitis, the bacteria must be introduced into the body. Group A Strep is the same bacterium that causes strep throat This group of bacteria is responsible for mild cases of sore throat (pharyngitis), skin infections, as well as rare, severe illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis. However, there are various strains of the bacteria, some of which are more powerful than others. With the right set of conditions, necrotizing fasciitis is a real risk and can cause severe damage.
They are contained in a protein coating which makes them more difficult to destroy. Virus cells are shaped like rods, spheres or tiny tadpoles. They reproduce by invading cells in our body. Viruses can be more serious and are responsible for causing a variety of diseases for example, Norovirus, AIDS, HIV, influenza, small pox and measles. There are different types of fungi for example mushrooms are a fungi and some cheeses have fungi in them, however fungi can also cause illnesses such as Candida, this is yeast that causes infection.
The most popular theory is that the body’s immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn’s disease, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign (www.gicare.com). The immune system’s response is to attack the invaders. During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury. Scientists do not know if the abnormality in the functioning of the immune system in people with Crohn’s disease is cause, or a result, of the disease (www.gicare.com). Researches have shown that the inflammation seen in the GI tract of people with Crohn’s disease involves several factors such as genes the patient has inherited, immune system and environmental factors
Diagnosis is often made after a series of abdominal x-rays, an upper gastrointestinal series, or a colonoscopy. Endoscopy tests may include flexible sigmoidoscopy which allows the doctor to directly examine the colon with a lighted tube that is inserted through the anus. The mucosal layer of intestine that absorbs nutrition contains immune cells that act like defenders of the body. When this mucosal layer breaks down, harmful bacteria enter deep layers of the intestine. This results in inflammation causing swelling, increased blood flow, and ulcerations.