Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Definitions [3]
Define the following:
Vector
Vector:
Vector is an agent that acts as an intermediate carrier of the pathogen.
Define homeostasis.
It is to maintain a stable equilibrium of the body in accordance with the pressures and changes of the body environment.
Definition: Health
Key Points
Key Points: Protozoan Diseases
- Malaria is caused by Plasmodium sp. (P. vivax, P. malariae, P. falciparum) and spreads through a female Anopheles mosquito bite.
- Sporozoites enter the human body, multiply in liver cells, then attack and rupture RBCs.
- Rupture of RBCs releases haemozoin toxin, causing chills and high fever every 3-4 days.
- Plasmodium needs two hosts - humans (asexual stage) and female Anopheles mosquitoes (sexual stage).
- Mosquito picks up gametocytes from an infected person → fertilisation in the mosquito's intestine → sporozoites reach the salivary glands → injected into the next human.
- Amoebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica; houseflies transmit parasites from faeces to food/water.
- Symptoms of Amoebiasis - constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, and stools with mucous and blood clots.
