Infectious diseases, Science

Assignment Help:

Infectious diseases:

Some of you may have heard about the great bubonic plague, a fatal disease of the blood, spread by fleas and respiratory  secretions. It occurred in epidemic proportions throughout most of Europe from thirteenth  to nineteenth century. A major outbreak of plague in India occurred in  1896 and lasted for fifteen years. It swept through villages and towns and killed over eight million people.  It seems that such diseases were common in ancient times. Increased trade and commerce and resultant human traffic made them reach new places all over the world. Similarly, diseases such as small pox, measles, influenza and cholera spread easily from one person  to  another, and from one area to another.

The reason for the spread of these diseases, and many others, was not known till the nineteenth  century. Till then, such diseases always left people struck with terror because their causes were shrouded in mystery. Due to ignorance, demons and evil spirits were blamed  for causing these diseases. In India, it was believed that these diseases weie a punishment from angry deities. A new Goddess was created and held responsible for each disease. For example "Stela Ma"  is said to cause small pox. People worshipped her to get cured from this disease.  It would be interesting to note here that small pox has been eradicated from this planet due to a planned world-wide vaccination campaign. Plague outbreaks do not occur any more. 

The poem given in the margin which children often sing while playing, is  jointly  sung at a memorial service outside the village Eyam in England to pay homage to the townsfolk who gave their lives three centuries ago to save others from  the disease. These people got affected by plague.  In order to stop the spread of disease they confined themselves in their village to save others. The ring of rosies refers to tbe rose-shaped  splotches on a plague victim. Posies were little flowers used to ward off the evil spirit. And Achoo! means sneezing which accompanied the disease. The last line means that they all died. You must have experienced that if somebody in the family is suffering from a cough or cold you often catch it. Do you know why?

Because these diseases are caused by germs or "microbes"  which can go from one person to another. "Microbes"  means minute organisms or germs. They are so small that we cannot see them with the naked eye. Some can be seen with the help of an ordinary microscope while others are smaller still and can be seen only under very special microscopes. Certain infectious diseases are caused by worms. We will also discuss how they spread from one perso-  another.  


Related Discussions:- Infectious diseases

Explain the constituents and examination of urine, Explain the Constituents...

Explain the Constituents and Examination of Urine The quantity of urine in 24 hours in adult normal individual varies from 600 ml to 2500 ml. It is pale yellow in colour, hyper

Which of the following would NOT affect gass exchange?, A) thickness of the...

A) thickness of the respiratory membrane B) gas concentration gradients C) decrease in pulmonary ventilation D) lung surface area E) no exceptions

Explain skin secretions - external defence mechanism, Explain Skin Secretio...

Explain Skin Secretions - External Defence Mechanism The oil and sweat secreted by sebaceous and soporiferous glands contains fatty and lactic acids, which makes the surface of

Arab renaissance, ARAB RENAISSANCE: The Roman Empire had begun to declin...

ARAB RENAISSANCE: The Roman Empire had begun to decline. Its economy was overburdened by a huge army. Stagnating production had led to the imposition of heavy taxes. Consequentl

Explain collecting duct or tubules - structures of a nephron, Explain Colle...

Explain Collecting Duct or Tubules - Structures of a Nephron Collecting Duct/Tubules: A long straight portion after the distal tubule is the open end of the nephron. It extends

Explain the renal failure, Explain the Renal Failure It is the inabilit...

Explain the Renal Failure It is the inability of the kidneys to manufacture and excrete urine causing the waste products to accumulate in the blood plasma. If the kidneys do no

Mendilian genetics, what are the 7 characters of pea plants observed by men...

what are the 7 characters of pea plants observed by mendal?

Explain riboflavin (vitamin b2), Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Riboflavin was...

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Riboflavin was isolated in  a crystalline form from milk by Kuhn  and co-workers in 1933.  Because of this,  the  early  name  of  the  vitamin  was  la

Explain pneumothorax - histotoxic hypoxia, Explain Pneumothorax - Histotoxi...

Explain Pneumothorax - Histotoxic Hypoxia It is a collection of air or gas in the chest or pleural space that causes a part or all of a lung to collapse. Due to the rupture of

Magma that reached the earths surface, Magma that reached the Earths surfac...

Magma that reached the Earths surface is known as: Lava

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd