ECO 533 - University of Phoenix



University of Phoenix Material

Read Me First – Week Two

Introduction

ALTHOUGH BACTERIA AND VIRUSES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF HUMAN DISEASES, EUKARYOTIC ORGANISMS (REFERRED TO AS PARASITES IN THE TEXT) ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR A GREAT DEAL OF HUMAN DISEASE. DISEASE-CAUSING BACTERIA, VIRUSES, AND PARASITES ARE CALLED PATHOGENS. THIS WEEK, YOU ARE INTRODUCED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARASITES AND HOW THEY CAUSE DISEASE. EACH PATHOGEN HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE MECHANISM BY WHICH IT INFECTS A HOST AND CAUSES DISEASE. HOWEVER, THE STAGES OF AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROCESS ARE SIMILAR FOR ALL DISEASE CAUSING VIRUSES AND PARASITES.

Thus far in this course, we have focused on the disease process in individuals. This week we address the occurrence and distribution of disease in populations—the science of epidemiology. In particular, the focus is infectious diseases that occur naturally in populations and those that are acquired in medical facilities—nosocomial infections.

This week in relationship to the course and the program

THIS COURSE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF MICROORGANISMS AND HOW THEY ARE RELEVANT TO HUMAN HEALTH. THIS WEEK WE FOCUS ON ONE PARTICULAR GROUP OF MICROORGANISM AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN DISEASE: PARASITES. THIS GROUP INCLUDES MICROSCOPIC EUKARYOTES, HELMINTHES, AND ARTHROPODS. THE READINGS BUILD ON EACH OTHER BY EXAMINING THE SPECIFIC WAYS IN WHICH THESE MICROORGANISMS CAUSE DISEASE. DIFFERENT MICROORGANISMS DISPLAY DIFFERENT COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOSTS, AND THEREFORE USE DIFFERENT METHODS OF CAUSING DISEASE IN INDIVIDUALS AND IN POPULATIONS. LATER WEEKS BUILD UPON THE CONCEPTS IN THESE CHAPTERS AND DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL THE DISEASES OF SPECIFIC ORGAN SYSTEMS AND WAYS IN WHICH DISEASES ARE COMBATED IN THE BODY.

Hints for a reading strategy of the assigned materials

AS YOU READ YOUR TEXTBOOK THIS WEEK, AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY IS ORGANIZING THE PARASITES INTO THE FOLLOWING MAJOR CATEGORIES: PROTISTS, FUNGI, HELMINTHES, AND ARTHROPODS. IN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PARASITE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HUMAN DISEASE.

In many cases the organisms have complex life cycles; however, the stages of the disease process for each organism that you read about are similar. Pay particular attention to the key terminology and key concepts including the following terms: host, reservoir, and vector. In reading about the host-microbe relationship and disease processes, give special attention to the following key terms: contamination, infection, infestation, and disease. Explore the differences between infectious and noninfectious diseases and between communicable infectious diseases and noncommunicable infectious diseases.

It is also important to understand the terminology and key concepts of epidemiology. Know the difference between incidence and prevalence. Distinguish between morbidity and mortality and between endemic, epidemic, pandemic, and sporadic diseases. To gain a better understanding of how infectious diseases are spread, identify the different modes of disease transmission—contact transmission, transmission by vehicles, and transmission by vectors.

Some questions to ask as you hone your critical thinking

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SNEEZED INTO YOUR HAND IN ORDER TO PREVENT SPREADING GERMS, AND THEN TOUCHED A DOOR KNOB? COULD YOU STILL HAVE SPREAD GERMS?

You may wonder why diseases are still so prevalent in the world despite all of the advanced biomedical research and technology available. As you become more familiar with the disease process of the various microorganisms and parasites, think about the challenges involved with eradicating these diseases and how pathogens have evolved mechanisms to continue to parasitize their hosts for thousands of years.

Public health officials often must do research and detective work to understand the infectious agent and how the infectious agent spreads in new and emerging diseases. What are the limitations that public health officials may face in trying to control these diseases? As you read the text, think about examples of emerging diseases and how the spread of these diseases is being studied. In the case of noscomial infections, consider the portals of entry for the pathogen and how the infections are spread through the medical facility. Assess the potential challenges or feasibility of identifying a new and emerging disease.

Summary

PATHOGENS ARE ORGANISMS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF CAUSING DISEASE. AFTER THIS WEEK, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EXAMINE THE ROLE OF PARASITES AND HOW THESE ORGANISMS CAUSE DISEASE. IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN INFECTIOUS AND NONINFECTIOUS DISEASES AND OUTLINE THE STAGES OF THE DISEASE PROCESS. THIS WEEK ALSO INTRODUCES YOU TO THE FIELD OF EPIDEMIOLOGY. THIS FIELD IS VITAL TO HUMAN HEALTH SCIENCES AND IMPACTS THE ENTIRE WORLD’S POPULATION.

©2008 University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

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