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Unit 12C: Treatment of infectious diseases
Introduction
I am working as a volunteer for an international charity whose aims are to overcome the threats
to people’s health created by outbreaks of serious infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses,
fungi, parasites or protozoa. The charity runs several programmes that work with communities
around the world to reduce the extent and impact of the diseases. My role as a volunteer is to
help research the various antimicrobial, anthelmintic, vaccine, immunoglobulin and rehydration
therapies being used to treat a range of infectious diseases so that published information
regarding the charity’s work can be kept up-to-date. I will use my research to produce a report
that evaluates, compares and describes the different treatment methods and the suitability,
problems and contraindications to their uses.
Causes and treatment of infectious diseases
Methods available to treat infectious diseases
For the method of delivery, I will describe the general duration for how long the treatment lasts,
in some cases the patient may take longer or shorter to recover fully from the pathogen as well as
the prescription that is given by the doctor detailing the course the patient needs to follow.
Treatment Example of pathogen treated Delivery
Antibiotics Cholera Orally through pills. 2-3 times a day for 3-7 days.
Antivirals Influenza Orally through pills or liquid. 2 times a day for 5-7
days
Antiretrovirals HIV/AIDs Orally through pills. 1-2 times a day, everyday
Antifungal Athlete’s Foot Applied tropically – this can be with creams,
powders and ointments. 1-2 times a day for 7-14
days.
Antiprotozoal Amoebiasis Orally through pills. 2-3 times per day for 7-10 days
Antimalarial Malaria Orally through pills. 1-2 times a day for 3-7 days
Anthelmintic Tapeworm Orally through pills. Usually taken once however
sometimes a second dose may be needed to make
sure the pathogen is eliminated.
Rehydration therapy Cholera Most often orally through drinking solutions of
water with salt, sugar and electrolytes or in some
cases administered intravenously (through a vein)
for those who are unable to drink the solution.
There isn’t a set amount of day that it takes
sometimes a day to a week but sessions usually last
between 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Immunoglobulins Kawasaki disease Usually intravenously (through the veins). Either
given by a single or multiple infusions over many
days.
, How different treatment methods combat diseases?
Treatment Details Effective against Ineffective against
Antibiotics This works by disrupting Infections caused by Viruses – this is due to the
the growth and bacteria antibiotics not being able to
reproduction of bacteria. It E. coli target the viruses as they are
does this in many ways. An Salmonella inside the host’s cells as well
example could be that the Bacillus as the structure of the virus
antibiotics attack the being different to a
bacteria’s cell wall whilst bacterium. The antibiotics
another form of antibiotic would target the cell wall or
could prevent the synthesis any of the bacteria’s
of proteins, DNA or RNA. organelles, however, viruses
It can also affect the don’t have any of these as
bacteria’s metabolisms they infiltrate the hosts’ cells
resulting in them not being and use that to replicate
able to produce energy and more viruses.
grow.
Antivirals This works by inhibiting Infections caused by Fungi, bacteria and parasites
the ability of the viruses to viruses: – antivirals attack the viruses
replicate. They can do this Covid-19 by preventing viruses from
by either preventing the Influenza replication – this will be done
viruses from entering or Herpes by eliminating the enzymes
leaving the host cells as that the viruses require to
well as affecting the ability reproduce. Fungi, bacteria
of the virus to replicate and parasites have other
once it is inside the cell. unique characteristics that
the antivirals will not be able
to kill, this will then result in
them being able to still grow
and continue to infect the
host.
Antiretrovirals Similarly, to antivirals, Infections caused by Bacteria, parasites and fungi
these work by treating retroviral: are not able to be targeted by
retroviral infections (e.g., HIV antiretroviral medication as
HIV) by preventing the T-lymphotropic the medication has been
HIV to enter the host cells virus made to attack HIV
whilst other antiretrovirals specifically and due to
stop the virus from different pathogens having
replicating once it is inside different characteristics, the
the host cell. medication hasn’t been
manufactured to target those
specific systems.
Antifungal This works by disrupting Infection caused by Viruses, bacteria and
the growth and fungus: parasites are not able to be
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