The causes of disease in humans
22nd January 2015
The causes of disease in humans
A disease is defined as a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. In this essay I will explore the causes of disease in humans, in terms of pathogen infection, viruses, lifestyle factors and genetics.
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens; any organism that causes disease. Pathogenic microorganisms include bacteria, fungi and viruses. Pathogens cause disease by producing toxins and damaging cells. An example of a disease causing pathogen is the cholera bacteria, Vibrio Cholerae. Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by drinking contaminated water or eating good that has been in contact with contaminated water, with symptoms including severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps. The cholera bacteria produces a toxin that affects chloride ion exchange; it causes the chloride ion protein channels in the plasma membranes of the small intestine to open, changing the water potential of the intestine and causing the body to become extremely dehydrated. Another example of a disease caused by bacteria is Pulmonary Tuberculosis; a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. The responsible bacteria is called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, with typical symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, a high temperature and tiredness and fatigue.
A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. It is recorded that at the end of 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV globally. That same year, 2.1 million people became newly infected, and 1.5 million died of AIDS related causes. HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system, weakening the ability to fight infections and disease. The most common ways of getting HIV include unprotected sex, sharing
The causes of disease in humans
A disease is defined as a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. In this essay I will explore the causes of disease in humans, in terms of pathogen infection, viruses, lifestyle factors and genetics.
Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens; any organism that causes disease. Pathogenic microorganisms include bacteria, fungi and viruses. Pathogens cause disease by producing toxins and damaging cells. An example of a disease causing pathogen is the cholera bacteria, Vibrio Cholerae. Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by drinking contaminated water or eating good that has been in contact with contaminated water, with symptoms including severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps. The cholera bacteria produces a toxin that affects chloride ion exchange; it causes the chloride ion protein channels in the plasma membranes of the small intestine to open, changing the water potential of the intestine and causing the body to become extremely dehydrated. Another example of a disease caused by bacteria is Pulmonary Tuberculosis; a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. The responsible bacteria is called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, with typical symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, a high temperature and tiredness and fatigue.
A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. It is recorded that at the end of 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV globally. That same year, 2.1 million people became newly infected, and 1.5 million died of AIDS related causes. HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system, weakening the ability to fight infections and disease. The most common ways of getting HIV include unprotected sex, sharing