Name: _____________________________________ Date: __________________

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La Martiniere Girls’ College

Class VIII
Biology
Chapter 5
Health and Hygiene

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.

The conditions necessary for good health are-

 Personal, domestic and community hygiene.
 Clean air, water food.
 Balanced diet.
 Exercise and relaxation.

A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort or
malfunction of a body organ.

TYPES OF DISEASES

CONGENITAL ACQUIRED

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES NON- COMMUNICABLE

DISEASES

Diseases that are present right from birth are congenital diseases. Diseases that develop after
birth are acquired diseases.
Diseases caused by microorganisms and transmitted from an infected person to another
person are communicable diseases. These are also called infectious diseases. The
microorganisms that cause diseases in humans are called pathogens or germs. They include
bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi.
Diseases that do not get passed on from one person to another are called non-infectious or
non-communicable diseases.

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Ringworm rash Pneumonia Athlete’s foot Conjunctivitis

TYPES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

MODE OF TRANSMISSION DISEASES

1 Air Common cold, influenza, whooping cough, measles,
tuberculosis, pneumonia etc.
2 Water Typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea, jaundice etc.

3 Food Jaundice, typhoid, dysentery etc.

4 Contact Ringworm, athlete’s foot, chickenpox, measles etc.

Vectors (Organisms that carry Mosquitoes - malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.
5 germs from a source of infection Cockroaches - dysentery and gastroenteritis
but remain uninfected Rats - plague, typhus etc.
themselves)

Plague

Rabies or hydrophobia is caused by the bite of

6 Bites and Stings animals especially dogs infected with the rabies virus.
The virus infects the central nervous system. Other
animals that may transmit rabies are monkeys, cats,
camels, bats and horses. A course of anti-rabies
vaccine injection should be immediately given after
infection.
Bites of poisonous snakes like Cobras, and Viper are
fatal.
Honeybees and scorpions also spread poison through
Rabies their stings.

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Protozoan and fungal diseases

Diseases Causative Method of Symptoms Prevention/

agent spreading Treatment
Dysentery Protozoa Contaminated Severe diarrhoea, Food should be
food and water inflammation, the protected from flies
passage of blood and and proper
mucus sanitation.
Malaria Protozoa Bite of infected Recurring chills and Mosquito control,
(Plasmodium) female fever, muscle pain, better hygienic
Anopheles headache, nausea, conditions, using
mosquito convulsions, protective clothing,
vomiting and bloody flying insect
stools. sprays, etc.
Ringworm Fungus Through pets Itchy ring-shaped Treat with cream or
or livestock or patches develop antibiotics.
infected
bedding

Bacterial diseases

Diseases Name of the Method of Symptoms Prevention/

bacteria spreading Treatment
Cholera Vibrio cholerae Water or food Severe diarrhoea, Vaccination
contaminated by dehydration, vomiting,
an infected abdominal pains and
person, vector collapse
like houseflies

Tuberculosis Mycobacterium Droplet Persistent cough, BCG

tuberculae infection fever, fatigue, weight vaccination
loss and sputum may for young
contain blood children and
teenagers

Typhoid Salmonella Contaminated High fever, acute Anti-typhoid

typhi food or water, headache, constipation inoculation
vector like and dry cough
houseflies
Gastroenteritis Salmonella Contaminated Severe diarrhoea, Antibiotics
species food or water dehydration, vomiting like
tetracycline

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Viral diseases

Diseases Name of the Method of Symptoms Prevention/

virus spreading Treatment
Poliomyelitis Poliovirus Droplet Fever, headache, Polio vaccine
infection or via stiffness in the neck
human faeces and other muscles,
paralysis
Chickenpox Varicella Direct or Fever followed by Vaccine, isolation
zoster indirect contact itchy skin rashes of infected person
with the infected
person or droplet
infection
Dengue DENV Aedes mosquito High fever with Apply mosquito
(virus) headache and severe repellent to the
joint pain, exposed area of the
haemorrhage and body and wear long
drop in platelet count sleeve shirts and
full pants to cover
the arms and legs
Chikungunya Chikungunya Aedes mosquito High fever with Prevent mosquito
virus severe pain in arms breeding. Use of
and legs, rashes insecticides and
mosquito repellent
Influenza Influenza Droplet Chills with high Avoid contact with
virus infection body temperature, the infected person,
sore throat, pain in cover your mouth
body. and nose, Wash
your hands
frequently.

VACCINATION
A vaccine is a preventive measure and is given before the occurrence of a disease. The
practice of introducing a vaccine into the body is called vaccination.

IMMUNIZATION
Immunization is an artificial way of achieving protection from infections by the introduction
of dead or weakened germs into one's body. When exposed to vaccines, the body makes
antibodies and more or less permanent protection from infection is achieved. Thus,
immunization is a process by which the body of an individual is made resistant to a specific
disease by vaccination. Some of the immunizations which are available in our country are
BCG vaccination (against TB), smallpox vaccination, triple vaccination, DPT (against
diphtheria, pertussis also known as whooping cough and tetanus), polio vaccination and
typhoid vaccination.

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NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
These diseases may occur due to:
 Malfunctioning of body organs due to various reasons.
 Deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body.
 Bad habits developed by us.

MALFUNCTIONING OF BODY ORGANS

Diseases that are caused by malfunctioning of certain organs like the heart, kidneys and eyes
are called degenerative diseases.

Heart diseases
A heart attack (cardiac failure) is perhaps the most common disease which occurs suddenly as
a result of obstruction of blood flow due to clogging of arteries.

Kidney diseases
When the kidneys malfunction, urea, which is a harmful waste product and a toxin,
accumulates in the blood and causes damage. It builds up in the body and the blood and
causes uraemia- a condition in which there is an unnatural buildup of urea in the blood that
results in kidney failure.

Diseases of joints
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become very porous, break easily and heal
slowly. Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the joints.

Cancers and Tumours

Sometimes cells in the tissues of certain parts of the body begin to grow in an uncontrolled
manner. As a result, external growths called tumours are formed. Some tumours are
harmless and are called benign tumours. Some tumours do not stop growing and are called
malignant tumours or cancers. These damage the organs where they grow.

Allergies
Allergies are caused by malfunctioning of the immune system. The bodies of some people are
sensitive to certain substances such as dust; pollen etc. These substances are called allergens.
The most common allergic reactions are hives, asthma, hay fever and eczema.

DEFICIENCY DISEASES
Deficiency disease is a disease that arises when there is a shortage of a particular nutrient in
the diet. Many people do not get enough to eat, they suffer from malnutrition. Eating more
than the body can use, makes a person obese i.e. fat. This condition is called Obesity.
 Deficiency of carbohydrates leads to a deficiency disease called marasmus.
 Deficiency of proteins leads to a deficiency disease called kwashiorkor.
 Vitamins are required by our body in small amounts. Deficiency diseases occur
when the body lacks a particular vitamin. E.g. Night blindness is caused by
deficiency of vitamin A, rickets due to deficiency of vitamin D and so on.
 Minerals are very important to maintain good health. Each mineral has a particular
function in the body e.g. deficiency of iron causes anaemia and deficiency of
iodine causes a disease called goitre.

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DISEASES DUE TO BAD HABITS

Tobacco addiction- Tobacco contains a chemical called nicotine. Smoking cigarettes can
cause heart attacks, bronchitis and cancer of the lungs, larynx, mouth, oesophagus, bladder,
pancreas and cervix.
Alcohol addiction- Alcohol, like tobacco, makes a person feel better and relaxed. Alcohol
addiction can cause bleeding in the stomach and oesophagus; can cause damage to the brain
and liver and even lead to memory loss and obesity. Alcohol slows down motor skills and
reasoning.
Drug addiction- A drug is a chemical which alters the way, the mind or body functions.
When consumed under medical supervision, they can cure diseases. However, some drugs are
consumed by people for reasons other than medical reasons e.g. morphine and pethidine.
When taken in larger doses they temporarily make a person feel happy and see things that are
not real. Such use of a drug is called drug abuse. The physical and mental health of a drug
addict keeps deteriorating. Apart from morphine and pethidine other narcotic drugs are
heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

FIRST AID
First aid is the immediate aid or assistance that is given to a sick or injured person before
professional medical attention is provided, for example during accidents, heart attacks, snake
bites, etc. The cases which need first aid are as follows.

Burns – First aid for burns depends on the degree of burns.

 In case of superficial burns pour cold water over the burnt area, then dry that portion
and cover with sterile dressing.
 In the case of deep burns, never use water. Cover the injured part with a dressing.
 In the case of chemical burns (due to acid and other chemicals) wash with running
water for 10 minutes and then cover with dressing.

Fracture - A fracture is the breaking of bone due to a fall or an accident. Make the patient lie
down on the bed, loosen their clothes without moving the injured part, tie a sling with a
wooden scale under the fractured part and take the patient to the doctor immediately.

Object in the eye - If anything falls in the eyes, do not rub them. Wash them gently with
clean water.

Unconsciousness - Unconsciousness occurs as a result of a sudden, brief drop in blood

supply to the brain When a person has fainted, lay him down comfortably, loosen his
clothing, and make sure that there is adequate fresh air around the person. Sprinkle some
water on his face. When consciousness returns, encourage the person to rest for a while
before moving.

Swallowing poison - Make the person drink as much salt water as possible. This will induce
vomiting and the person's poison will be expelled. Take the person to the nearest emergency
department.

Snake Bite - In case of a snake bite, immediately squeeze out some blood from the wound
and tie it tightly with a tourniquet above the spot to prevent the spreading of venom (poison)
into the bloodstream.

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Sting - Insect (bees or wasps) stings are rarely serious, but they are often painful. The pain
may be relieved by pouring cold water or applying ice on the affected area. Sometimes,
covering the bite with a paste of baking soda and water is also helpful.

PREVENTION OF DISEASES
Diseases can be prevented by developing good, healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet,
exercising regularly, ensuring proper rest and sleep for the body and mind, keeping the body
clean and avoiding habit-forming substances such as alcohol, nicotine and drugs.

EXERCISES
1) Select the correct option:
i) Which of the following acts as a vector for plague:
a. Rat
b. Mosquito
c. Housefly
d. Sandfly
ii) Which of the following is not a viral disease:
a. Poliomyelitis
b. Cholera
c. Smallpox
d. Influenza
iii) Which of the following diseases is not spread by any sort of animal?
a. Rabies
b. Plague
c. Dengue
d. Osteoporosis
iv) Which one of the following is a communicable disease?
a. Measles
b. Heart attack
c. Cancer
d. Allergy

2) Reena, a ten years old child, was attending to her ailing mother who showed
symptoms of high fever, persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss and sputum containing
blood. Gradually she developed similar symptoms and needed medical attention.
Based on the given information, answer the following questions: [4]
a. Identify the likely infection based on the presented symptoms.
b. Name the causative organism?
c. How could she have got infected?
d. How can the disease be prevented in children?

3) Differentiate between the following:

a. Communicable and non-communicable diseases.
b. Malignant tumour and benign tumour.

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 4) Identify the following diseases with the help of symptoms given:-
a. Convulsions, paralysis, hydrophobia.
b. Sputum may contain blood.
c. Ring-shaped patches.

5) State the causative agents for the following diseases:

a. Tuberculosis
b. Dengue
c. Chikungunya
d. Cholera

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