Pathogens
Types
There are 4 types of pathogen, these are:
Virus
Fungi
Bacteria
Protists
These are all communicable illnesses meaning they can be passed from person to person.
Transmission
Illnesses can be transferred from person to person in different ways.
Type | Example |
Direct contact | Shaking hands or sexual contact. |
Water | Dirty water can carry and many diseases. |
Air | When someone with an illness sneezes this can spay thousands of infected droplets into the air. |
Unhygienic food preparation | Undercooked food can cause bacterial diseases. |
Vector | Any organism that can spread illness is known as a vector. |
Viral diseases
Viruses are not cells.
They infect living cells which are known as host cells.
Name | Signs | Treatment |
Tobacco mosaic virus | Leaves change color Leaves curl up | There is no treatment. |
HIV/aids | Flu like symptoms | No cure for it but there are drugs that slow down the effects. |
Measles | Fever Rash | Children are vaccinated at a young age. |
Bacterial diseases
Not all bacteria cause illness.
They are prokaryotic cells.
Can’t be seen without a microscope.
Name | Signs | Treatment |
Gonorrhoea | Burning pain when urinating Yellow or green discharge | Antibiotics Safe sex |
Salmonella | Vomiting Diarrhoea abdominal cramps | Cook food fully Don’t store cooked and uncooked food together |