Site author Richard Steane
The BioTopics website gives access to interactive resource material, developed to support the learning and teaching of Biology at a variety of levels.
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Site author Richard Steane
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The BioTopics website gives access to interactive resource material, developed to support the learning and teaching of Biology at a variety of levels.
|
| Disease | Caused by | (Signs) and Symptoms | Control/prevention | spread by |
| Common cold
(upper respiratory system infection) |
rhinovirus (many forms) and coronavirus (and others) | scratchy throat, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, (cough, fever) - more pronounced in young children | Cold medicines should relieve symptoms (lowering temperature, etc) but there is no vaccine | air droplets (aerosols) from sneezes, coughs, etc or by contact -contagious for the first 2 to 3 days, usually not after the first week. |
| Flu (upper and occasionally lower respiratory system infection) |
influenza virus | chill, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, cough, fatigue, general discomfort
More serious than the (common) cold |
|
air droplets (aerosols) from sneezes, coughs, etc or by contact with contaminated surfaces |
| Mumps | "mumps virus" | swelling of salivary glands, headache, fever, inflammation of testes (more important in teenagers and adults) | Mumps vaccine (part of MMR and MMRV* vaccines) | airborne droplets (aerosols) from sneezes, coughs, etc or by contact with surfaces very easily spread in university/college scenarios |
| Measles (also called rubeola, not to be confused with rubella) |
morbillivirus | respiratory system infection, fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, skin rash. | Measles vaccine (part of MMR and MMRV* vaccines) | airborne droplets (aerosols) from nose and mouth, etc or by contact
serious disease in some under-developed countries |
| Rubella ("German measles") | rubella virus | minor flu-like symptoms and rash but if a woman is pregnant it can cause deafness, eye abnormalities, and congenital heart disease in baby | Rubella vaccine (part of MMR and MMRV* vaccines) | airborne droplet emission from the upper respiratory tract |
| Chickenpox | varicella zoster virus
see below |
skin rash, muscle pain, nausea, fever, headache, sore throat, pain in both ears, complaints of pressure in head or swollen face, and malaise in adolescents and adults | varicella vaccine (part of MMRV* vaccines) | airborne - coughing or sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the rash. |
| Shingles | varicella zoster virus reactivation after chickenpox infection - perhaps years before - virus travels down nerve to skin | painful, sensitive, tingling or burning skin eventually turning into a rash of red spots, fever, headache and enlarged lymph nodes. |
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Shingles rash can spread chickenpox if touched so no sharing towels, swimming, or contact sports. |
| (HIV/AIDS)
Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome |
Human immunodeficiency virus | progressive failure of the immune system allowing development of life-threatening opportunistic infections e.g. pneumonia and cancers |
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transfer of body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk
using non-sterile syringe needles (drug addicts or insecure health service) |
| (HPV) | Human papillomavirus (many types) | Small genital and other warts: may be insignificant (both sexes)
- may lead to cancer within the reproductive system, especially cervical cancer in females (major cause of cervical cancer) |
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sexual activity, including oral sex |
| Oral Herpes
Genital Herpes (other forms) |
Herpes simplex virus | Blisters (cold sores) on lips, genitals (other parts of the body may be infected) | condoms antivirals: acyclovir ACV (Zovirax) |
Skin-to-skin contact especially with active lesion or body fluid Infection remains and can be reactivated (depending on health?) |
