B6

describe how viral infections are treated

vaccines or antiretroviral drugs

explain why antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections

its difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses without damaging our own cells or tissues

what do painkillers do

treat symptoms but don’t kill pathogens

explain how a vaccine works

contains dead or inactive pathogens, white blood cells can then make antibodies to fight the pathogen. the white blood cells than remember the antibodies to make a quicker response when infected

define herd immunity

reducing the spread of a disease by vaccinating a larger proportion of a population, reduces the spread of a pathogen

define penicillin

an antibiotic made from penicillium mould

who discovered penicillin

alexander fleming

name the drug that comes form fox gloves

heart drug digitalis

name the drug the drug that comes from willow

aspirin, a painkiller

explain how antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are produces

overusing, not finishing a full course of or sharing antibiotics

name 3 things new drugs are tested on in preclinical trials

cells tissue and animals

name 3 things new drugs are tested for

toxicity, efficacy and dosage

define clinical trials

research studies including human patients

give the stages of clinical trials

test on healthy patients to check side effects

test on patients with the disease to check it works and to find the best dosage

define placebo

a medicine that does not contain the active drug, but the patient experiences results anyway

define a double blind trial

when the doctor and patient don’t know who receives the drug. reduces bias

describe what must happen before a drug can be sold

results from clinical trials are published. results are reviewed by independent scientists