Human Health and Diseases

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, concepts, and specific human diseases detailed in Chapter 7: Human Health and Diseases.

Health (WHO Definition)

According to the World Health Organisation (1948), health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely an absence of disease or physical fitness.

Physical Health

A dimension of health involving the perfect functioning of all the organs and systems of the body.

Mental Health

A state of harmony and balance between the individual and the surrounding, where the individual is free from anxiety and tension.

Social Health

A dimension of health characterized by an individual having a good job, a good house, a happy family, good neighbours, and understanding friends.

Disease

Any condition which interferes with the normal functioning of the body and impairs health, involving morphological, physiological, or psychological disturbance.

Congenital Diseases

Inborn diseases present from birth that are generally inheritable, caused by gene mutations or chromosomal mutations.

Acquired Diseases

Non-inheritable diseases that occur only after birth during the lifespan of an individual.

Communicable Diseases

Diseases that can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person by means of air, water, food, physical contact, or vectors.

Pathogens

Disease-causing micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, and helminths that successfully infect and multiply inside the body.

Contagious Diseases

Communicable diseases that spread from an infected person to a healthy person by actual contact between them.

Non-contagious Diseases

Communicable diseases that spread from an infected person to a healthy person through intermediate agencies like food, air, water, or vector hosts rather than actual direct contact.

Non-communicable Diseases

Diseases that cannot be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person, caused by nutrient/hormone deficiency, tissue degeneration, hypersensitivity, or tumours.

Deficiency Diseases

Non-communicable diseases occurring due to the deficiency of specific nutrients in the diet or specific hormones in the body.

Degenerative Diseases

Non-communicable diseases occurring due to the degeneration of certain body tissues, such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and arthritis.

Cancerous Diseases

Diseases resulting from the uncontrolled growth and division of cells in certain body tissues, leading to tumour formation.

Allergic Diseases

Diseases resulting from the hypersensitivity of the body to certain external agents called allergens.

Acute Diseases

Diseases that occur very rapidly and last for only short periods without causing major long-term effects on general health.

Chronic Diseases

Diseases that last for a long time and have prolonged, major effects on general health over years.

Disease Agent

Any substance which causes a disease by its excess, deficiency, or absence, categorized into biological, chemical, nutritive, physical, and mechanical agents.

Fomite Borne Transmission

Indirect disease transmission where pathogens spread through contaminated non-living articles such as handkerchiefs, towels, or crockery.

Inflammation

A common disease manifestation characterized by redness of the infected area, swelling, fever, and increased permeability of capillaries.

Prophylaxis

The measures taken for the prevention of diseases.

Personal Hygiene

Self-cleanliness maintained by developing clean individual habits to preserve good health and remain free from contamination.

Public Hygiene

Community-wide measures aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including waste disposal, clean water supply, and vector control.

Lifestyle Disease

A disease occurring due to behavioural changes in the mode of living or diet, such as physical inactivity or unhealthy dietary habits.

Hippocrates

The historical figure commonly called the "Father of Medicine" who proposed the "Theory of Four Humors".

Robert Koch

The scientist who proposed the "Germ theory of diseases".

Typhoid

A bacterial disease caused by the gram-negative bacillus Salmonella typhi, characterized by high persistent fever ($39^\text{o}\text{C}$ to $40^\text{o}\text{C}$), headache, and intestinal lesions.

Widal Test

A diagnostic blood test for typhoid that yields a positive result during the second week of infection.

Pneumonia

A respiratory disease characterized by the collection of lymph and mucus in the bronchioles and alveoli, caused mainly by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Common Cold

An infectious disease caused by a group of viruses called rhinoviruses, affecting the nasal epithelium and upper respiratory tract.

Typhoid Mary

The nickname of Mary Mallon, a cook who acted as a typhoid carrier for several years through the food she prepared.

Mantoux Test

A specific diagnostic test used to detect the presence of tuberculin in the sputum of a tuberculosis patient.

BCG Vaccine

Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine, prepared from Bovine tubercle bacilli of cattle, used for immunization against tuberculosis.

Amoebiasis

An intestinal disease caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, characterized by mucosal ulceration, acute diarrhoea, and bloody stools containing tetranucleate cysts.

Haemozoin

A toxic pigment formed from the haemoglobin of destroyed red blood cells during malarial infection, responsible for recurring malarial fever attacks.

Schizogony

The phase of asexual multiplication of the malarial parasite Plasmodium occurring inside the human host.

Gamogony

The phase of sexual reproduction of Plasmodium, occurring partly in humans and partly in the stomach of the mosquito host.

Sporogony

The phase of asexual multiplication of Plasmodium occurring on the stomach wall of the mosquito vector.

Ookinete

The motile, worm-like zygote stage of Plasmodium formed inside the stomach of a female Anopheles mosquito.

Plasmodium falciparum

The species of Plasmodium responsible for malignant tertian malaria, the most serious and potentially fatal form affecting the brain.

Filariasis

A disease caused by Wuchereria bancrofti or W. malayi, characterized by swelling of body parts like legs (elephantiasis) due to blockage of lymph vessels.

Ascariasis

An intestinal infection caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, transmitted by ingesting food or water contaminated with second juvenile larvae.

Ringworms

A highly infectious fungal skin disease caused by genera such as Microsporum, Trichophyton, or Epidermophyton, characterized by dry, scaly lesions and severe itching.

Edward Jenner

The scientist commonly called the "Father of Immunology".