Grade 5 Q&A: Chapter 23: Infectious Diseases and How to Prevent Them

Concept Questions

Q1: What are infectious diseases?

Answer: Infectious diseases are diseases that spread from one person to another. Examples include flu, cold, ringworm, scabies, and chickenpox.

Q2: What causes infectious diseases?

Answer: Infectious diseases are caused by specific micro-organisms or germs.

Q3: How do germs from a sick person spread in the air?

Answer: When a person with an airborne disease (like a cold) coughs, spits, or sneezes, germs from their saliva or spit enter the air with tiny droplets. Other people can then breathe in these germs.

Q4: Name two diseases that spread through the air.

Answer: Two diseases that spread through the air are influenza (flu) and tuberculosis.

Q5: Why are we told to cover our nose and mouth when we cough or sneeze?

Answer: We are told to cover our nose and mouth when we cough or sneeze to prevent the germs from spreading into the air and infecting others.

Q6: Where are the germs of intestinal diseases like typhoid and cholera found?

Answer: The germs of intestinal diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, and jaundice are present in the faeces of the affected person.

Q7: How can diseases spread through water?

Answer: Diseases spread through water if faeces containing germs get mixed with water. If another person drinks this contaminated water, the germs enter their body, causing illness.

Q8: What is food poisoning?

Answer: Food poisoning is a type of disease that spreads through contaminated food, often when germs enter food due to improper handling or flies sitting on it.

Q9: How do flies spread diseases?

Answer: Flies spread diseases by picking up germs on their legs when they sit on dirt or faeces of sick people. When these flies then sit on our food, the germs are transferred to the food, and if we eat it, we can get sick.

Q10: Name two diseases that spread through insect bites.

Answer: Two diseases that spread through insect bites are malaria (from mosquitoes) and diseases spread by fleas.

Q11: How do skin diseases like ringworm and scabies spread?

Answer: Skin diseases like ringworm and scabies spread by direct contact with the skin of an infected person or by wearing their clothes.

Q12: What is an epidemic of a disease?

Answer: An epidemic occurs when many people in one area get the same infectious disease all at the same time.

Q13: What are the main mediums through which diseases spread?

Answer: Air, water, food, and insects are the main mediums through which diseases spread.

Q14: What is vaccination?

Answer: Vaccination is a method to prevent disease where the body develops resistance to a particular disease if we are vaccinated against it.

Q15: Name one vaccine given to a newborn baby.

Answer: A newborn baby is given the tuberculosis vaccine.

Q16: What is the purpose of Primary Health Centres at the village level?

Answer: Primary Health Centres are established at the village level to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and epidemics, and to provide health and community welfare programs.

Application-Based Questions

Q17: Your friend has a cold and is coughing. What precautions should they take to prevent others from getting sick?

Answer: Your friend should cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze to prevent the germs from spreading in the air. They should also avoid spitting in the open.

Q18: If you see someone defecating on the banks of a river, why should you advise them against it?

Answer: You should advise them against it because the germs from faeces can mix with the river water, contaminating it. If others drink this water, they can get intestinal diseases like typhoid or cholera.

Q19: Why is it important to always keep our food covered?

Answer: It is important to always keep our food covered to prevent flies from sitting on it and transferring germs, and also to prevent dust and other rubbish from entering the food. This helps prevent the growth of micro-organisms and the spread of disease.

Q20: If there is a large number of mosquitoes breeding in your area, what disease might many people get? What should be done?

Answer: If there are many mosquitoes breeding, many people might get **malaria**. To prevent this, we must ensure there is no stagnant water in the surroundings where mosquitoes can breed. If not possible, insecticides may need to be used.

Q21: Why are people advised to boil water before drinking it during an epidemic of gastro or jaundice?

Answer: People are advised to boil water before drinking it during an epidemic of gastro or jaundice because boiling water kills the germs present in it, making the water safe for consumption and preventing the spread of the disease.

Q22: A person with tuberculosis is spitting openly. What should be done to prevent the spread of the disease?

Answer: The spittle of a person with tuberculosis should be collected in a vessel and covered with a germicide like phenyle. This precaution helps to prevent the disease from spreading to others through the air.

Q23: Why do we sometimes not get a disease even if germs enter our body?

Answer: Many times we do not get a disease even if germs enter our body because our body has a natural resistance and fights the germs. Vaccination also helps the body develop this resistance.

Higher-Order Thinking Questions

Q24: "Cleanliness, a balanced diet and vaccination are essential for the prevention of infectious diseases." Explain how each of these contributes to disease prevention.

Answer: * **Cleanliness:** Maintaining cleanliness (personal and environmental) prevents germs from spreading through air, water, and food, and reduces breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects. * **Balanced Diet:** A balanced diet strengthens our immune system, making our body more resistant to fighting off germs even if they enter our system. * **Vaccination:** Vaccination helps our body develop specific resistance or immunity against particular diseases, preventing us from getting sick even when exposed to those germs.

Q25: At one time, people believed diseases were caused by anger of gods or black magic. How has science changed this understanding?

Answer: Science has shown that diseases are not caused by supernatural forces but by **micro-organisms** (germs). This scientific understanding has led to the development of effective treatments, hygiene practices, and vaccinations, which are based on real biological processes rather than superstitious beliefs, thus improving public health significantly.

Q26: If you have conjunctivitis, why should you not go to school? What is the general principle behind this?

Answer: If you have conjunctivitis, you should not go to school because it is an infectious disease that spreads quickly, often through direct contact or shared items. The general principle is to **quarantine** or isolate individuals with serious infectious diseases to prevent an epidemic and protect the health of the community, especially in crowded places like schools.

Q27: How does the government's role in public health services contribute to preventing epidemics at a national level?

Answer: The government plays a crucial role by undertaking health and community welfare programs at the national level. This includes community vaccination programs, establishing primary health centres and mobile dispensaries, providing ambulance services, and educating people on hygiene. These efforts ensure widespread access to prevention and treatment, thereby controlling and preventing epidemics across the nation.

Q28: Imagine a scenario where a village's main water source becomes contaminated. What immediate and long-term steps should the villagers and local authorities take to prevent an epidemic?

Answer: **Immediate Steps:** 1. **Stop Usage:** Immediately stop using the contaminated water source for drinking and cooking. 2. **Boil Water:** Advise all villagers to boil their drinking water from any available source. 3. **Bleaching Powder:** Local authorities should add bleaching powder to the community water source to kill germs. 4. **Inform Health Department:** Inform the government health department for immediate assistance and monitoring. **Long-term Steps:** 1. **Identify Source of Contamination:** Investigate and fix the cause of water contamination (e.g., sewage leakage, improper waste disposal). 2. **Water Purification System:** Implement a proper water purification system for the village's water supply. 3. **Hygiene Education:** Conduct public awareness programs on safe drinking water practices and maintaining cleanliness around water sources.

Q29: Why is it important to crush empty bottled water bottles before throwing them in the garbage bin?

Answer: It is important to crush empty bottled water bottles before throwing them into a garbage bin so that they cannot be reused. This prevents unscrupulous individuals from refilling them with unpurified water and selling them, which could lead to the spread of water-borne diseases and pose a serious health risk to consumers.

References

1. Maharashtra State Board Environmental Studies (Part One) Standard Five Textbook (2015 Edition) - Chapter 23: Infectious Diseases and How to Prevent Them, pages 121-126.
2. Maharashtra State Board 5th Standard Environmental Studies Syllabus.
3. Balbharati Environmental Studies Part 1 Textbook.