LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET No.

_____
DISEASES
Name of Learner: ______________________ Date: __________________________
Learning Strand: LS-2 (Scientific Literacy and Critical Thinking Skills)
References:https://www.healio.com/infectious-disease/news/online/%7B53e2cad9-f420-4d59-ad86-6a61e8d7586f
%7D/what-are-diseases
https://byjus.com/questions/what-are-the-4-types-of-diseases/
I. Introductory Concept
What are diseases?
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting a living organism. Diseases are generally understood to be medical
conditions that involve a pathological process associated with a specific set of symptoms. Localized diseases affect
specific parts of the body; disseminated diseases spread to other parts of the body; and systemic diseases affect the
entire body.
Each disease process has an origin, or etiology, but some diseases may present with different or confusing
symptoms, making them difficult to diagnose or determine. The physical symptoms of disease may be accompanied
by emotional symptoms, and some diseases that affect the chemical balances of the nervous system may manifest in
physical symptoms.
Categories of diseases include autoimmune, bacterial, blood, cancer, digestive, heart, nerve (or
neurodegenerative), sexually transmitted or thyroid. Diseases may be communicable or non-communicable. External
sources that can cause disease include acquired viruses or bacteria, and internal causes of disease include
autoimmune or genetic dysfunction. Some diseases are chronic, meaning that they are continually present and may
present symptomatically during a long duration.
Humans generally associate disease with pain, distress or social problems. Atypical variations of structure and
function, deviant behaviors, disabilities, disorders, injuries, infections and syndromes may be the signs of disease or
may be confused with actual disease processes.
Disease may be prevented or avoided using a number of strategies, including proper sanitation, proper nutrition,
frequent exercise and vaccination. Treatments for disease range from medication and medical devices to surgery to
self-care. Diseases may be cured simply by time, whereas others require a set of treatments that reverse the disease
processes or end the root medical problem permanently. Some diseases may not be cured, in which case the
symptoms of the disease may be treated using pain management therapy or palliative care.
There are 4 main types of diseases as listed below:
Infectious Diseases
These are the diseases caused by microorganisms such as fungi, virus, bacteria, protozoans or parasites. Microbes
are usually found on our body but under unfavourable conditions may turn harmful. They can be communicated –
from person to person, through insect bites or animals, from mother to fetus, ingestion of contaminated water or
food, or exposure to infected air. Depending upon the infections, the symptoms vary. However, some commonly
occurring symptoms are – Fever, fatigue, headache, cold, cough, vomiting etc. While some can be treated with home
remedies and over-the-counter drugs, few other severe diseases require the attention of a doctor who prescribes
vaccines and antibiotics.
Hereditary Diseases
They are caused by an irregularity in the genetic makeup of an individual, the abnormality can range from miniature
up till major. It could be a distinct mutation in a particular base of the DNA of a single gene to a deformity of the
whole chromosome which would involve the inclusion or exclusion of a set of chromosomes or the whole
chromosome. Few of the genetic ailments are passed by the parents (in case they possess), while other genetic
disorders can be acquired due to variations in the already existing gene or pool of genes. These mutations could be
due to environmental exposure or may occur randomly. Examples of hereditary diseases are:
• Cystic Fibrosis • Down’s syndrome
• Haemophilia • Huntington’s disease
• Thalassemia
Deficiency Disease
These are diseases caused due to insufficient supply of dietary elements, precisely, vitamins and minerals. The food
we consume needs to have a good balance of all the nutrients. However, the modern diet lacks nutrients, causing
deficiencies in the body. These deficiencies can be caused due to a lack of the following essential nutrients:
• Calcium deficiency • Vitamin D deficiency
• Iodine deficiency • Magnesium deficiency
• Iron deficiency • Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
Physiological Diseases
It is a disorder of the function of tissues or structure of organs and tissues. It is a condition where organs of the body
breakdown, causing illness in the body. These diseases are caused when the normal functioning of the body is
affected because of the inability of the organs to perform their functions or alteration in the cellular structures of
the body over a period of time. Examples of these diseases are – Hemochromatosis, Iron deficiency anemia etc.
II. Learning Skills from ALS CG
Grading period Learning Competencies ALS CG Code
1st Explain the concept of disease, e.g., alteration in the LS2SC-AS-PSD- LE/AE/LJHS/AJHS-
overall state of the well - being of a person. 1.4.4

Cite factors affecting the well-being of a person such LS2SC-AS-PSD-LE/AE/LJHS/AJHS-2

as:
 congenital (existing at birth) diseases
 predisposition to certain diseases and
acquired physical defects
 poor resistance to germs
 inherited susceptibility to develop certain
diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and
asthma

III. Activity A
Direction: Match column A with column B.

1. Infectious diseases

 It is a disorder of the function of tissues or

structure of organs and tissues. It is a condition
2. Hereditary diseases
where organs of the body breakdown, causing
illness in the body.
 These are the diseases caused by
3. Deficiency diseases
microorganisms such as fungi, virus, bacteria,
protozoans or parasites.
4. Physiological diseases  They are caused by an irregularity in the genetic
makeup of an individual, the abnormality can
range from miniature up till major.
5. Diseases  These are diseases caused due to insufficient
supply of dietary elements, precisely, vitamins
and minerals.
 Are generally understood to be medical
conditions that involve a pathological process
associated with a specific set of symptoms.