Mystery illness Bacteria vs. virus

Introduction Medical professionals such as emergency room doctors and primary care physicians often act as medical detectives when identifying the cause of a patient’s illness, injury, or death.A pathogen is any disease-producing agent such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite. These tiny organisms can make their way into a human body by various means and cause illness and even death in humans. Many of these illnesses have similar symptoms even when caused by different pathogens. The correct pathogen must be identified to ensure the patient undergoes the correct treatment. What is a pathogen? a virus a bacteria a parasite all of the above Bacteria vs. Virus Bacteria are microscopic one-celled organisms. Thousands of types of bacteria live almost everywhere. Bacteria can reproduce themselves (multiply). Many bacteria are helpful, while others can make us sick.•Microscopic (very small), cannot see with the human eye around 1000 nm (nanometer).•One-celled organisms without a nucleus.•Can reproduce themselves by dividing.•Thousands of types of bacteria live almost everywhere.•Many bacteria are helpful, while others can make us sick.•Some bacterial infections can be prevented with a vaccine like tuberculosis, tetanus, cholera, typhoid, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.•Most infections caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics.•Spreads through contact by sneezing, coughing or contact with contagious people or animals or contaminated food.Viral diseasesare caused by a virus, a sub-microscopic particle that must infect living organism (bacteria, fungi, protist, plant or animal cells) to reproduce. Viruses may spread through a population by contact with contaminated surfaces, airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing by an infected individual, or ingesting infected food or water. Prevention of viral diseases includes vaccines, hand washing, and physical barriers such as covering a cough or wearing a mask.•A biological particle that consists of genetic material (DNA or RNA) and a protein cover that helps it to infect organisms. This coat can be spiny and sticky.•Viruses can’t reproduce on their own, so they infect cells and take them over in order to multiply. Cannot survive on their own and may considered as non-living.•Smaller than bacteria, 40-100 nm•Can be prevented by a vaccine.•Some infections can be treated by antiviral drugs. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses as they have a different structure and reproduce differently than bacteria.•Spreads through contact by sneezing, coughing or contact with contagious people or animals or contaminated food. True or False. Vaccines are used for prevention, not treatment. True False Viruses are _ than bacteria. largers smaller same size Viruses just like bacteria can reproduce on their own. True False The mode of transmisssion of viruses and bacteria can be similar. True False Antibiotics are used to treat viruses only bacteria only both What are bacteria? Microscopic one celled organisms. Live almost everywhere Does not have a nucleus Can reproduce All of the above None of the above Epidemic vs. Pandemic An epidemic is an infectious disease that spreads rapidly and sickens a large number of people. Throughout history, epidemics have had dramatic effects on human political and social history. The 1918 avian flu outbreak killed an estimated 30-50 million people worldwide and may have been the most devastating short-duration epidemic in history. Other epidemics include smallpox, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Today we are dealing with another respiratory disease caused by COVID-19. All of these epidemics are viral diseases.A viral disease that used to be common among children in the United States is chickenpox. The chickenpox illness is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV) and causes an itchy rash of spots that look like blisters and can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches. Chickenpox is highly contagious and can be spread by coming in contact with blister fluid of an infected person or when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes near you. An infected person is contagious, or can spread the virus, for 1 to 2 days before the rash appears.At certain points in history, many people have become infected with a particular illness. For example, the Black Death ravaged Europe from the year 1347 to the early 1350s, killing almost one-third of the continent’s population.When a large number of people become seriously ill due to the same bacteria or virus, it is called an epidemic—or, if the disease spreads globally, a pandemic, as we are experiencing today.While disease has affected humans since the beginning of time, it wasn’t until people began gathering in larger populations that infections began to reach epidemic or pandemic levels. An epidemic happens when an infection (caused by a bacteria or virus) affects a large number of people within a given population, such as a city or geographic area. If it affects even greater numbers and a wider area, these outbreaks become pandemics.How do pandemics spread? How Pandemics Spread Watch this short video (8 min) and complete the term matching. Match the term with the description. Epidemic a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a localized area at a particular time. Pandemic A disease that has spread throughout the world AIDS Fairly recent disease, began in the 1980's. it is a retrovirus that attacks the cells of the immune system. Influenza a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, and often occurring in epidemics. Disease containment Quick action based on medical and scientific knowledge used to slow down spread The Immune System, Vaccines, and Antibiotics The human immune system uses white blood cells to defend the body from harmful “intruders” like viruses and bacteria, also known as antigens. The white blood cells make antibodies specific to each intruder. The antibodies destroy the intruders or help white blood cells destroy them.Vaccines, special medicines developed to prevent specific bacteria or viruses, help the body produce antibodies to attack dangerous intruders BEFORE you are actually exposed to the pathogen. A vaccine contains a dead or weakened version of the disease causing agent. Because the germ has been killed or weakened before it is used to make the vaccine, it doesn't make the person sick. Instead, the body reacts to the vaccine by "waking up" the immune system to be prepared when the actual pathogen is encountered.Antibiotics work completely differently. They are medicines that help to kill bacteria that have infected a person. They work by specifically by targeting the bacteria's ability to grow and multiply. In a way they help the immune system after an infection has occured as an extra tool. They are specific for types of bacteria and do not work on viruses since viruses replicate very differently than bacteria. Check for understanding The human immune system uses white blood cellsto defend the body from harmful intruders. Harmful intruders such as viruses and bacteria are also known as antigens What do white blood cells make to fight off antigens? red blood cells antibodies bacteria Vaccines contain a dead or weakened version of the disease causing agent. True False