Activity 1.3a Disease Cards
Common Cold
Strep Throat
A respiratory illness (an illness involving
the organs and tissues involved in
breathing) caused by viruses. Symptoms
may include watery eyes, runny nose,
coughing, sneezing, mild body aches, and
general weakness and fatigue (tiredness).
An infection in the throat and tonsils
caused by a type of bacteria. Symptoms
may include red and swollen tonsils
(sometimes with white patches or streaks
of pus), sore throat, difficulty swallowing,
swollen and tender lymph nodes in the
neck, mild body aches, fever, and general
feeling of tiredness and weakness.
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Asthma
Diabetes
Measles
An illness that affects your lungs, making it
difficult to breathe. It isn’t clear why some
people get asthma and others do not, but it
is probably due to a combination of genetic
(inherited) and environmental factors.
Symptoms may include difficulty breathing
and wheezing.
An illness that affects how your body uses
sugar. If you have diabetes, your cells
aren’t able to take in the sugar they need,
resulting in high blood sugar levels, which
can result in serious health problems.
Symptoms may include increased thirst,
frequent urination, blurred vision, extreme
hunger, and slow-healing sores.
An infection caused by a virus that
replicates in the nose and throat.
Symptoms may include fever, dry cough,
runny nose, sore throat, red eyes, and a
skin rash made up of large, flat blotches.
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Cystic Fibrosis
Allergies
An inherited disease that causes severe
damage to the lungs and digestive system.
The cells that produce mucus, sweat, and
digestive juices secrete thick and sticky
fluid that plugs up tubes and
passageways, particularly in the lungs and
pancreas. Symptoms may include
wheezing, breathlessness, persistent
cough that produces thick spit and mucus,
repeated lung infections, and inflamed
nasal passages or a stuffy nose.
A reaction in the body to a foreign
substance, such as pollen, bee venom, or
pet dander. When the person comes into
contact with the allergen, the body sees it
as harmful and the immune system
reaction is to inflame the skin, sinuses,
airways, or digestive system. Allergic
reactions range from mild to severe (that
can be life-threatening). Symptoms may
include sneezing, runny nose, hives, rash,
wheezing, coughing, itchy skin, and
anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction
where a person’s breathing can drop,
breathing tubes can narrow, and the
tongue can swell).
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Flu (Influenza)
Heart Disease
An infection caused by a virus that attacks
your nose, throat, and lungs. Flu
symptoms are initially similar to a common
cold. However, the symptoms come on
suddenly and can be more intense than a
cold. Symptoms may include nasal
congestion, chills and sweats, a fever,
aching muscles, headache, and a dry
cough.
A range of conditions that affect your
heart, including heart defects (that you are
born with), narrowed or blocked blood
vessels, or an abnormal heartbeat. There
are a variety of causes of heart disease,
including diet, lack of exercise, being
overweight, other health conditions, and
genetics. Symptoms may include chest
pain, shortness of breath, pain, numbness
or weakness in your arms or legs,
lightheadedness, dizziness, and pale gray
or blue skin color.
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Chickenpox
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Cancer
An illness caused by a virus that is
transmitted by direct contact with the rash
or by droplets dispersed into the air by
coughing or sneezing. Symptoms may
include fever, loss of appetite, headache,
fatigue (tiredness), raised pink or red
bumps that are itchy. These bumps, or
pox, turn to fluid-filled blisters and then
crusts and scabs.
A respiratory illness (an illness involving
the organs and tissues involved in
breathing) caused by a type of bacteria.
Infection is marked by a severe hacking
cough followed by a high-pitched intake of
breath that sounds like a “whoop.”
Symptoms may include runny nose, nasal
congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, mild
fever, dry cough, and “whoop” sound
during intake of air.
A range of diseases characterized by the
presence of abnormal cells that divide
uncontrollably. These cells have the ability
to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue
and can spread throughout the body. The
cause of cancer is sometimes unknown,
but development of the disease can also
be influenced by genetics, the
environment, and behavioral factors.
Symptoms may include fatigue (tiredness),
weight changes, skin changes, and
persistent, unexplained pain or discomfort.
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Inflammation of one or more of your joints
caused by wear-and-tear damage to the
joints or by the body’s immune system
breaking down the lining of the joints.
Symptoms may include joint pain,
stiffness, swelling, redness, and
decreased ability to bend at joints.
Arthritis
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Inflammation or infection of the membrane
that lines your eyelid and covers the white
part of your eyeball. The small blood
vessels become inflamed and cause the
white of your eyes to appear reddish or
pink. It is commonly caused by bacteria or
a virus. Symptoms may include redness,
itchiness, tearing, and discharge that
forms crust during the night that may
prevent your eye or eyes from opening in
the morning.
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Osteoporosis
A disorder that causes bones to become
weak and brittle. The brittle bones can
lead to breaks, most commonly occurring
in the hip, wrist, or spine. Osteoporosis
occurs when the production of new bone
doesn’t keep up with the removal of old
bone. Symptoms may include back pain,
loss of height over time, a stooped
posture, and bones that break easily.
An illness caused by a virus that causes
severe bleeding (hemorrhage), organ
failure, and often death. Symptoms may
include fever, severe headache, joint and
muscle aches, chills, weakness, nausea
and vomiting, diarrhea, red eyes, raised
rash, bleeding from the eyes, and internal
bleeding.
Ebola
Tuberculosis
An illness caused by a virus that mainly
affects your lungs. Tuberculosis is spread
through microscopic droplets released into
the air when an infected person sneezes,
spits, coughs, laughs, or sings. Symptoms
of an active infection may include
coughing that lasts three or more weeks,
coughing up blood, chest pain,
unintentional weight loss, fatigue
(tiredness), fever, night sweats, and chills.
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