3.1.2 Agents of Disease

You have learned how agents of disease can infect and cause harm to a host. How might the condition of a host affect how successful a pathogen is at causing disease?

If a host is weakened, their immune system will also likely be weakened, making it easier for the pathogen to infect the host since their immune system isn't at full strength.

What body system is responsible for protecting the body from invaders?

Immune or lymphatic system

Summarize how infectious diseases can be spread, treated, and prevented.

Infectious disease can be spread through person to person contact, through surfaces, animals and insects, infected fluids and meat, through the air, etc. They can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the type of infectious disease. They can be treated with antibiotics, antivirals, anti-protozoal, and antifungals, various types of medications. They can be prevented by limiting contact with infected people, surfaces, fluids, wearing masks, getting vaccines, and proper personal hygiene.

What is the connection between disease, host, and pathogen.

A disease is what occurs when a pathogen infects a host.

What does transmission mean?

The process of a pathogen going from either one host to another or from a host to a surface, animal, fluid, etc.