Human Health: Pathogens, Pollution, & Infectious Disease

Vocabulary flashcards covering various pathogens, pollutants, routes of exposure, and their effects on human health based on class lecture notes.

Dysentery

An intestinal disease caused by contaminated food and water or fecal-oral contact, resulting in approximately $165$ million cases and $1$ million deaths annually.

Mesothelioma

A condition caused by inhalation of airborne fibers or ingestion of asbestos, affecting the lungs or abdomen with symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain.

Tropospheric Ozone

An air pollutant that, when inhaled in high volumes, can cause severe chest and abdominal pain and reduces global crop yields by $79-121$ million tonnes.

Plague

An infectious disease spread by flea bites or infected droplets that killed $\frac{1}{3}$ to $\frac{1}{2}$ of the affected population during the $14\text{th}$ century.

Tuberculosis

A respiratory disease spread by airborne inhalation, often found in areas with high population density and poverty, with $\frac{1}{4}$ of the global population expected to be infected.

Malaria

A disease transmitted by infected mosquito bites in warm, humid climates with stagnant water, resulting in $282$ million new cases in $2024$.

West Nile Virus

A mosquito-borne virus also spread through blood transfusions or organ transplants, where 80\text{%} of infected people show no symptoms.

Zika Virus

A virus discovered in $1947$ in Uganda's Zika Forest that can be transmitted via mosquitoes, sexual contact, or blood transfusions, potentially causing congenital disabilities.

SARS

A respiratory droplet and airborne disease that can lead to liver and heart failure, though the U.S. has reported no deaths from it.

MERS

A respiratory illness spread from animals (camels) to humans or through person-to-person close contact, characterized by fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Cholera

A waterborne disease caused by poor hygiene and lacking sanitation that can cause death due to dehydration and shock in under $24$ hours.

E. Coli

A pathogen spread through contaminated food, water, or animal contact that affects $95,000$ Americans annually.

Prophylactic antibiotics

A specific mitigation effort used to prevent infection after potential exposure to the Plague.

Chemoprevention

A mitigation strategy used to reduce the impact of Malaria in children, alongside intermittent treatment for pregnant women.

Vertical Transmission

A route of exposure mentioned for West Nile Virus and Zika Virus where the pathogen is passed from mother to offspring.