Chapter 8: Diseases

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Chapter Overview & SLOs

What is a disease? A disease is a medical condition with identifiable signs and symptoms that affects the normal functioning of the body. It is different from illness, which is the personal experience of feeling unwell.

What distinguishes infectious from non-infectious diseases?

• Infectious diseases: Caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Can spread from person to person. Examples: COVID-19, tuberculosis, influenza, HIV/AIDS.
• Non-infectious diseases: Result from genetics, lifestyle choices, or environmental factors. Cannot spread between people. Examples: diabetes, cancer, asthma, heart disease.

What are zoonotic diseases? Zoonotic diseases are caused by pathogens that normally live in animals but can infect humans. Example: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), rabies, Ebola.

What are chronic diseases? Chronic diseases develop slowly and last for a long duration (often years). They may not have a complete cure but can be managed. Examples: diabetes, asthma, arthritis, hypertension.

How do the different types of diabetes develop?

• Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Usually diagnosed in children/young adults. Requires insulin injections.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Insulin resistance where body cells do not respond properly to insulin. Often associated with obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet. Can sometimes be managed with lifestyle changes and oral medications.

How does cancer develop and spread through the body?

• Development: Genetic mutations cause cells to grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor.
• Metastasis: The process by which cancer cells break away from the original tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors in other parts of the body.

How do antibiotics work? Antibiotics are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria through various mechanisms:

• Inhibiting cell wall synthesis (e.g., penicillin)
• Disrupting protein synthesis
• Blocking essential enzymes

How can antibiotic resistance be prevented and managed?

• Complete the full course of treatment (even if you feel better)
• Avoid using antibiotics for viral infections (colds, flu)
• Improve hygiene and sanitation to reduce spread of resistant bacteria
• Develop new antibiotics through research

What are the clinical stages of HIV? HIV infection progresses from an asymptomatic phase (no symptoms) to severe immune dysfunction (AIDS), where the body cannot fight off opportunistic infections.

These notes are strictly aligned with the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the FBISE 2026 annual examination.

• How do we differentiate between infectious and non-infectious diseases? Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens like bacteria and viruses and can spread between people, whereas non-infectious diseases result from genetics, lifestyle, or environment and cannot be transmitted.
• How do the different types of diabetes develop? Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, while Type 2 Diabetes involves insulin resistance where body cells do not respond to insulin properly.
• How does cancer develop and spread through the body? Cancer begins when genetic mutations cause cells to grow uncontrollably; it spreads via metastasis, where cells travel through the blood or lymph system to form new tumors in other parts of the body.
• How can antibiotic resistance be prevented and managed? Resistance is prevented by completing the full course of treatment, avoiding antibiotics for viral infections, and improving hygiene and sanitation to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)