Question

Write short notes ( 2-3 sentences) on the following :
Disease, immunization, pathogen, AIDS, vaccination, vector.
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Answer 1

Disease

1. Disease – is a harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an organism.
2. There are two major categories of diseases. They are – Communicable and Non-communicable diseases.
3. Communicable – These diseases are spread from an infected person to a healthy one.Non- communicable – These diseases may be caused due to improper functioning of the body organs

Immunization

1. It describes the process whereby people are protected against illness caused by infection with micro-organisms (pathogens)
2. The immunization is a process by which the body of an individual is made resistant to a specific disease by vaccination

Pathogen

1. Disease causing microorganisms are called pathogens. They obtain nourishment from the host. E.g. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminth.
2. We get such infections through air, water, food, physical contact, cuts, sexual contact and from insects like mosquitoes, flies etc.

AIDS

1. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is the final and most serious stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system.
2. The symptoms are loss of weight, body is normal defense against infection breaks down. And the prevention is to avoid sexual contact with infected person, always use disposable syringes.

Vaccination

1. Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from a disease.
2. A vaccine can be prepared by any one of the following methods: 1. Using killed germs – vaccine for rabies (dog-bite) 2. Using living weakened germs – the vaccine for measles. 3. Using fully virulent living germs – vaccine for smallpox. 4. Using Toxoids – to develop a vaccine against AIDS also.

Vector

1. Vectors are organisms (houseflies, mosquitoes) which carry germs from the source but themselves do not get the infection.
2. Mosquitoes inject the blood of a malaria patient, gain the germs and transferred to the healthy person. Houseflies carry germs from garbage and deposit them on food. A person will get disease if he eats such food.