Human Health: Pathogens, Pollution, & Infectious Disease

Vocabulary flashcards covering key pathogens, infectious diseases, and environmental health hazards from the Human Health lecture notes.

Dysentery

An inflammatory infection of the intestine that results in severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the stool, typically caused by bacteria or parasites in contaminated food or water.

Mesothelioma

A type of cancer that affects the thin layer of tissue covering the majority of internal organs, most commonly the lining of the lungs, primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.

Tropospheric Ozone

A secondary air pollutant formed in the lower atmosphere by the reaction of nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) and volatile organic compounds ($VOCs$) in the presence of sunlight, which causes respiratory irritation and damage.

Plague

A serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, usually transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas or contact with infected animals.

Tuberculosis

A contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs and is spread through respiratory droplets in the air.

Malaria

A life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, causing cyclic fevers and chills.

West Nile Virus

A viral infection most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito, which can lead to fever or, in severe cases, neurological diseases like encephalitis or meningitis.

Zika Virus

A virus primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes; it can cause mild symptoms in adults but is linked to severe birth defects, such as microcephaly, if a mother is infected during pregnancy.

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; a contagious and sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by a specific coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that first emerged in 2002.

MERS

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, typically characterized by fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Cholera

An acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, leading to severe dehydration.

E. Coli

Escherichia coli; a large and diverse group of bacteria found in the environment and intestines of humans and animals, some strains of which cause severe food poisoning and diarrhea.