Infectious Diseases

Host Defenses Nonspecific mechanisms are the body’s primary defense against disease-anatomical barriers, physiological deterrents and presence of normal flora Anatomical barriers-skin, nasal opening, skull, vertebral column Physiological deterrents-tears, vaginal secretions, saliva, blood, sweat and some tissue fluids Normal flora-successfully compete with pathogens

Host Defenses Continued Specific mechanisms- immunity Cell mediated-uses T-cells Antibody-mediated-uses B-cells Vaccinations-produces immunity

Public Health Measures toward Prevention of ID Safe Water US water is purified through settling, filtration, and chlorination Private wells must follow safe guidelines Municipal water is usually tested Sewage treatment and disposal is mandated by US government ** After hurricanes water safety is a concern

Food Safety US has many standards, inspection plans and regulations dealing with food preparation, handling and distribution Milk is pasteurized and dated as well as analyzed periodically Restaurants, meat-packing plants and supermarkets are inspected regularly

Animal Control Programs Domestic herds are inspected Rabid animals are destroyed Rat control programs are in place in urban areas

Vaccination Programs Mandate that children be vaccinated prior to school Works well- Pathogens cannot reproduce itself enough to maintain disease in the population

Pesticides Programs Used to block vector-borne disease Mosquito spray trucks.

Public Health Organizations Goals Enforce regulations Provide public health services Conduct research Patient advocacy groups

Public Health Organizations National Institutes of Health (NIH) –Supports health related research Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigates disease outbreaks, published reports, sponsors education/research, reference labs Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-monitors safety of food and medications sold to the public World Health Organization (WHO) provides international surveillance and control of disease

Benefits of Public Health Research New research techniques-rapid identification Public health can be improved with biomedical research HIV Protease Inhibitors One class of medication that prevents immature viruses of the HIV from assembling into structures capable of replication. Most current research on AIDS Vaccine Research Identification of better preventative measures