WHY DO WE FALL ILL

Meaning of the term Disease, Classification of Diseases, Causes of Diseases Health is defined as a state of physical, mental and social well being. A disease is an unhealthy condition caused by microorganisms, improper diet or it may be inherited. Classification of diseases is based on prevalence, occurrence or spread and duration. Epidemics are outbreak diseases that attack many people at the same time and spread very quickly. Classification of diseases based on occurrence or spread includes Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases. Infectious diseases spread from one person to another through air, water, food, physical contact and insects, hence also called communicable diseases. Non-Infectious Diseases such as blood pressure are caused by nutritional deficiencies, hence called non-communicable diseases. Classification of diseases based on duration includes acute and chronic diseases. Diseases that last for a short period are called acute diseases. Diseases that last for a lifetime are called chronic diseases. Causes of diseases might be due to contaminated water, lack of good nourishment and genetic abnormalities. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and worms that cause diseases are called infectious agents. Diseases caused by bacteria are typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis and anthrax. Diseases caused by viruses are common cold, influenza, dengue fever and AIDS. Diseases caused by fungi are commonly skin infections. Diseases caused by protozoa are Kala-Azar and Sleeping Sickness. Diseases caused by worms are intestinal infections and lymphatic infections like elephantiasis. Organ and Tissue specific Manifestations of microbes depends on the mode of entry of microbes. Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS is so called because the AIDS virus breaks down the bodys immune cells and organs that comprise the immune system.

Transmission of Diseases
Common ways of transmission of diseases includes direct contact, air, water, food and other animals. Overcrowded and poorly ventilated housing is a main factor in the spread of airborne diseases. Cholera is a water borne disease. Syphilis and AIDS are diseases caused by physical contact. Organisms that carry microbes from a sick person to a healthy person are called vectors. Rabies and malaria are diseases caused by animals.

Common effects of a infectious disease is activation of immune system and inflammation. Immune system recruits many cells to the affected tissue to kill the infectious agents, a process called inflammation.

Treatment of infectious diseases involveseither reducing the effects of the disease or eliminate the cause of the disease. Antibiotics are more effective against bacterial infections. Anti-viral drugs are meant for treating viral diseases. Problems faced in treatment of diseases involves damage of body functions or may never recover completely. Prevention of infectious diseases is better than cure.

There is an important role of immune system in prevention of infectious diseases. Person infected with chicken pox wont get the disease again, because of our body cells that react against microbes and remember by producing memory cells.

Immunization is the protection of individuals from communicable diseases by administration of a suspension of killed micro-organisms. A hundred years ago, smallpox epidemics were common throughout the world. Virus like smallpox was eliminated from the world through vaccines, a process called vaccinations. First vaccine was developed against small pox by Edward Jenner, hence called "Father of Immunology".

Chapter-13 Why Do We Fall Ill

Anything that prevents proper functioning of cells and tissues will lead to a lack of proper activity of the body. When a person experiences such a condition, he is said to be ill or in poor health. What is health? A state of being well A state of being well enough to function well physically, mentally and socially. Which are the factors important for staying in good health? Physical Environment Social Environment Cleanliness (Personal Hygiene and Public Cleanliness) Good Food Good economic conditions Social Equality and harmony (an example of how community issues effect individual health) To have the opportunity to realise the unique potential in all of us Disease=DisEase=Disturbed Easeand there is a specific cause for this discomfort. Disease is any harmful change that interferes with the normal appearance, structure, or function of the body or any of its parts. Conditions essential for being free of a disease There should be no discomfort to the individual. There should be no specific andparticular cause for a discomfort Difference between being healthy and disease free It is possible to be in poor health without actually suffering from a disease

When we think about health, we think about societies and communities When we think about disease, we think about individual sufferers To identify a disease, we look for signs and symptoms. Symptoms are Unfavorable change in the functioning or appearance of one or more systems of the body. Signs things we feel as being wrong. Symptoms give an indication of the disease. Example: Headache, cough, fever, loose motions, pus in the wound etc are symptoms Laboratory tests are done to confirm the presence and type of disease. Types of Diseases (based on Duration) Acute Diseases Eg. Common Cold Chronic Diseases Eg. Elephantiasis

An Acute disease does not cause major effects on general health

A Chronic disease will cause major effects on general

health(Loss of weight, feeling tired all the time, being short of breath) A chronic diseasemay affect a person for years

An acute disease may affect a person for a few days or weeks An acute disease will not cause drastic long terms affect on the health of a person.

A Chronic disease will cause drastic long term affects on the health of a person. (Prolonged general poor health)