Diseases – introductory worksheet

Research the following and provide responses for Questions 1-3:

1. What is meant by the term ‘disease of poverty’? Provide at least three examples of this type of disease.

The term ‘disease of poverty’ is an umbrella term used to describe a number of infectious diseases which are known
to be more prevalent among poorer populations, rather than a definitive group of diseases. Examples of this include
measles, pertussis and polio.

2. What is meant by the term ‘disease of affluence’? Provide at least three examples of this type of disease.

The term ‘disease of affluence’ , previously called ‘diseases of rich people’ , is a term also known as chronic diseases
which sometimes are given to select diseases and other health conditions which are commonly thought to be a
result of increasing wealth in a society. Examples of this include diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer.

3. Are malaria and HIV/AIDS examples of either a ‘disease of poverty’ or a ‘disease of affluence’? Explain.

Malaria and HIV/AIDS are examples of a ‘disease of poverty’ as they are more prevalent in those living in poorer
nations. Both diseases are commonly found in areas of low sanitation and health services, and in effect, people are
unable to combat these diseases due to their unhealthy living conditions.

Read Jacaranda Chapter 6 pp 181-184 and complete Questions 4-10:

4. Historically, to what has the cause of disease been attributed to in general? Why do you think this might
have been the case?

Historically, the cause of disease has been attributed to the Four Horsemen, Miasma and the collapse of civilisations
like the Greek, Roman, Aztec and Inca empires. This may have been the case as people did not have the education to
know how diseases work, how they begin or how to cure them. Therefore people have associated them with
supernatural beliefs and the feeling that they have no control.

5. In modern times, what are the SHEEPT factors that the cause of disease is attributed to now?

SOCIAL Social factors including the ability to improve standards of living through education, health
and work. Social interaction with others in gatherings.
HISTORICAL
ECONOMIC Economic factors such as the ability to extract resources, manufacture goods, produce food
etc. Trade and Poverty
ENVIRONMENTAL Geographical factors such as climate, topography and access to natural resources.
POLITICAL Political factors including the effects of war, conflict and civil unrest. Awareness campaigns.
TECHNOLOGICAL Developments in health care, medical science and the ability to fight disease

6. How does disease impact on the HDI ranking of a country?

Diseases negatively impacts the HDI ranking of a country. This is because disease reduces the standard of living, life
expectancy, both of which are measured by the HDI.

7. What is epidemiology? In the past, how was this practice conducted? How has it evolved since then?

Epidemiology is the area of medical studies that examines the incidence, possible sources and prevalence of
infectious diseases in communities of people. In the past, the Greek physician Hippocrates sought a logic to sickness
and was the first person known to have examined the relationships between the occurrence of disease and
environmental influences. Since then, a doctor named Girolamo Fracastoro was the first to propose a theory that
very small, unseeable particles that cause diseases were alive. Scientific method has been adopted.
 8. What is a general definition of the word ‘disease’?

Disease is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal or plant, especially one the produces specific
symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

9. Define the following terms and provide an example of each:

a. Infectious disease:

Infectious diseases can be passed from one person or animal to another through contact, usually by
food, water, air or a vector. An example includes pneumonia.

b. Epidemic:

When a disease spreads rapidly and affects many people at much the same time, resulting in a
widespread infection. An example includes the 2007 influenza epidemic in Australia.

c. Pandemic:

The term describing a disease prevalent across a wide geographic area such as a country, region or even the
world. An example of this is the Black Death in Europe.
d. Endemic:

When a disease is common to a specific locality, region, or people. An example is malaria in many tropical
countries such as Papua New Guinea.

e. Vector:

An organism capable of carrying and transmitting pathogenic bacterium and virus from one person to another.
Examples include a flea, fly or mosquito.

f. Water-borne disease:

Water borne diseases are contracted from either drinking or accidentally swallowing contaminated water, or
by eating food that has been prepared using unclean water. Examples include cholera, typhoid and polio
g. Air-borne disease:

Air borne diseases occur when people breathe in bacteria or viruses attached to dust particles, smoke or water
vapour. Examples include influenza, tuberculosis and smallpox.

h. Sexually transmitted disease (STD):

STD’s are transmitted through sexual contact, breast feeding or needle sharing between IV drug users. Examples
include HIV, gonorrhoea and chlamydia.

i. Deficiency disease:

Deficiency diseases are a term used to describe a range of conditions that people acquire due to a lack of food or
nutrients and vitamins. Examples include xerophtalmia, beri beri and scurvy.

j. Zoonotic disease:

A pathogen or virus which originates or lives in another animal and transfers to people. Examples include AIDS, Ebola
Virus, SARS and rabies.

k. Anthropozoonotic disease:

One that is common to some groups of people but able to affect animals, such as brucellosis, tuberculosis, human
herpes virus and measles.