CHAPTER

3 Human Health and Disease

Health Types of diseases

Health is not simply ‘absence of disease’ or ‘physical fitness’. Parameters Non-infectious Infectious
Factors affecting health: Transmission from one No Yes
person to another
Mental state, genetic disorders, infections and life style (habits,
rest and exercise) Example Cancer AIDS
Productivity, longevity Pathogens: Disease causing organisms:
Condition Increase ™
Bring economic prosperity  Most parasites are pathogens living in (or on) the
of health Decrease Infant and maternal mortality host, multiply and interfere with normal vital activities
resulting in morphological and functional damage.
Disease  Gut pathogens can survive harsh pH & digestive enzymes.
™ It is state of the body when functioning of one or more organ ™ Vector: Transmits disease from one organism to another
systems is adversely affected, characterized by various signs e.g., female Aedes mosquito is the vector for dengue and
and symptoms. chikungunya while, Anopheles spreads malaria.
Table: Classification of diseases on the basis of transmission

Mode of transmission Bacterial Viral Protozoan Helminthic

Air (droplet/aerosol) or object borne Pneumonia, diphtheria Common cold, Smallpox – –
(pens, knobs etc.)
Direct contact Tetanus Smallpox – –
Contaminated food and water Typhoid, dysentery Polio Amoebiasis Ascariasis
Insect vector/vector borne Plague Chikungunya, Dengue Malaria Filariasis
Body fluids Syphilis AIDS Trichomoniasis –

Bacterial Diseases
Disease Pathogen Organ affected Common symptoms
Typhoid Salmonella typhi Small intestine and other Sustained high fever (39–40°C)
organs by migrating ™ Stomach pain
through blood ™ Weakness
™ Constipation
™ Headache
Diagnostic test: ™ Loss of appetite
Widal test In severe cases, intestinal perforation and death may
occur.
Pneumonia Streptococcus pneumoniae, Alveoli of lungs ™ Problem in respiration due to fluid filled alveoli
Haemophilus influenzae ™ Fever, chills, cough, headache
In severe cases, lips and finger nails may turn gray to
bluish

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Viral Diseases
Disease Pathogen Organ affected Symptoms
Common cold Rhino virus ™ Nose and respiratory ™ Nasal congestion and discharge
passage ™ Sore throat
™ Common cold does not ™ Hoarseness, cough
infect lungs ™ Headache, tiredness
™ symptoms usually lasts for 3-7 days

Helminthic Diseases
Disease Pathogen Organ/structure affected Symptoms
Ascariasis Ascaris (Roundworm) Intestine Internal bleeding, fever, muscular pain, anemia, blockage
of intestinal passage

Elephantiasis/ Wuchereria bancrofti Lymphatic Chronic inflammation of organs in which they live for
Filariasis W. malayi (Filarial worm) vessels many years resulting in gross deformities e.g., limbs,
genital organs etc.
Fungal Diseases
Disease Pathogen Body parts affected Symptoms
Ringworm Microsporum, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton Skin, nails & scalp Dry, scaly lesions
Intense itching
Protozoan Diseases
Disease Pathogen Area affected Symptoms
Amoebiasis/ Amoebic Entamoeba histolytica Large intestine ™ Constipation
dysentery ™ Abdominal pain
™ Cramps
™ Stool with excess mucous and blood clots
Malaria Plasmodium RBCs ™ Chills
™ P. vivax ™ High fever recurring every 3-4 days
™ P. malariae ™ If left untreated, it can be fatal
™ P. falciparum
™ P. ovale

Aids/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

™ It is the deficiency of immune system, acquired during the lifetime of an individual.
™ It is non congenital and fatal infectious disease. It is caused by HIV (Human immuno deficiency virus).
Table: Enveloped virus enclosing 2 single stranded RNA genome ™ There is progressive decrease in number of helper T-cells.
Mode of High Risk ™ Initial symptoms: Fever, diarrhoea, weight loss.
Life cycle
transmission Individuals ™ Later the immune-deficient patient is prone to infections
Sexual contact Multiple sexual especially those due to Mycobacterium, viruses, fungi,
partners Toxoplasma, etc.
Entry of virus in body Placenta HIV infected ™ There is always a time-lag between infection and appearance
mother to foetus of AIDS symptoms. This may vary from a few months to
Blood transfusion Repeated blood many years (usually 5-10 years).
transfusion Diagnostic Test: ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent
Infected needles Drug addicts Assay)
(intravenous)
Treatment: Anti-retroviral drugs, can only prolong life but cannot
Entry into body cells (Macrophages, helper T-cells) prevent death.

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Cancer Types
A dreaded non-infectious disease; major cause of death all across Parameters Innate Acquired
the globe. Observed Time of birth After birth
Exposure to infection Not required Required
Cancerous cells/
Parameters Normal cells Defense Non specific Specific
Neoplastic cells
Memory record No Yes
Cell growth and Highly controlled Uncontrolled & non-
differentiation and regulated regulated Lymphoid Organs
The human immune system consists of lymphoid organs, tissues,
Contact Present, virtue of Lost, so these cells cells and soluble molecules like antibodies. This response is
inhibition which contact with keep on dividing carried out by two special types of lymphocytes present in our
other cells inhibits and form mass of blood i.e., B and T-lymphocytes.
their growth cells called Tumor/
Thymus Bone marrow
Neoplasm Primary
lymphoid Matured
organs lymphocytes
Types of Tumor T-cells
migrate
B-cells
Parameters Benign Malignant tumor/cancer Secondary
Spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils,
lymphoid
Location Confined to Grow rapidly and spread to other appendix, MALT, Peyer's patches
organs
original place parts
Damage Little damage Invade and damage other cells T-cells
Help
B-cells produce
starving normal cells by competing mediated antibodies/Army of
for vital nutrients. response proteins in blood
Metastasis No Yes, cells sloughed from such
tumors reach distant sites through Cell-mediated Humoral immune
blood and start new tumor immune response/Antibody
response/CMI mediated immune
called metastasis (most feared
response
property).
™ Tumor cells have ability to avoid detection and destruction IMMUNE RESPONSE
by immune system.
Type Primary Secondary/Anamnestic
™ Approaches for treatment:
Exposure to pathogens First time Subsequent times
 Surgery
 Radiotherapy: Tumor cells irradiated lethally
Intensity Low High
Based on
 Chemotherapy: Side effects like hair loss, anemia
memory of first encounter
 Immunotherapy: a-interferons (Biological response
modifiers) activate immune system and helps in Responses are carried out by B and T lymphocytes.
destroying the tumor. ™ Each antibody has 4 peptide chains (H2L2): 2 long heavy
chains and 2 short light chains. They are called immunoglobulins
Immunity (lg). The different types of immunoglobulins are:
The ability of the host to fight the disease causing organisms, lgA, lgM, lgE, lgG, IgD
conferred by the immune system is called immunity. ™ T-lymphocytes are responsible for graft rejection.

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Vaccination and Immunisation
Types of immunity
Antibodies Active Passive
Produced within the host body Ready-made/preformed antibodies are directly given
Time taken for full/ Longer Shorter
effective response
Memory cells Yes No
Examples Natural infection Placenta
Antibody production in host Mother  → Foetus
Vaccination (lgG)

Deliberate injection of
Colostrum
living/dead microbes/ Mother →
(lgA)
Infant
proteins
™ Recombinant DNA technology has allowed the large scale production of antigenic polypeptides of pathogen in bacteria/yeast.
Hence, greater availability for immunization, e.g., hepatitis B vaccine produced from yeast.
Allergies
Exaggerated response of immune system to certain antigens present in the environment.

Allergens Substances to which exaggerated immune response is produced e.g., pollens, mites in dust, animal dander, etc.
Antibodies lgE type
Symptoms Sneezing, watery eyes, running nose, difficulty in breathing
Chemical released Histamine and serotonin from mast cells
Diagnosis Patient is exposed to or injected with very small doses of possible allergens and reactions studied.
Treatment Anti-histamine, adrenaline and steroids quickly reduce the symptoms of allergy

Drug Abuse
™ Chemical when taken for a purpose other than medicinal use or in amounts/frequency that impairs one’s physical, physiological or
psychological functions and constitutes drug abuse.
™ Source-Majorly from flowering plants and some from fungi.
Drug Receptors Source Intake Examples Action and anything specific
Opioids CNS, GIT Latex of poppy Snorting, ™ Morphine ™ Effective sedative and pain killer
plant, Papaver injection ™ Heroin/Smack ™ Useful in patients undergone surgery
somniferum (Diacetylmorphine) ™ Depressant and slows down body
functions
™ Odourless, white, bitter crystalline
compound
Cannabinoids Principally Inflorescence, Inhalation, ™ Charas ™ Effects on cardiovascular system of the
in brain flower tops, oral ingestion ™ Hashish body
leaves and resin of ™ Ganja ™ Also being abused by some
cannabis plant sportspersons
™ Marijuana
Stimulants CNS Coca plant Snorting ™ Cocaine/coka alkaloid ™ Interferes with transport of
Erythroxylum ™ Commonly called neurotransmitter dopamine
coca (Native of (coke/crack) ™ Potent stimulating action on CNS,
South America) producing sense of euphoria and
increased energy
™ Excessive dosage causes hallucinations

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Hallucinogens Atropa belladona, – – ™ Have been used for hundreds of years
Datura in folkmedicine, religious ceremonies
and rituals all over the globe
Other drugs Synthetic Barbiturates, ™ Help patients cope with mental
Benzodiazepines, illnesses like depression and insomnia
Amphetamines
™ Chronic use of drugs and alcohol damages nervous system and liver (Cirrhosis)

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