A child has a blocked nose, a sore throat and a mild cough, and is better after five days…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A child has a blocked nose, a sore throat and a mild cough, and is better after five days. Another child has a high fever, chills and fast breathing. A doctor hears fluid in the lungs, and the lips of the child look bluish.
- Which child most likely has the common cold, and which has pneumonia?
- Name the type of pathogen in each.
- Which part of the respiratory system is infected in pneumonia?
- Name two ways in which both diseases spread.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
A pathogen is an organism or virus that causes disease. Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi, pneumonia by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, and the common cold by rhinoviruses. Bacteria multiply by dividing in two, so after doublings the number is .
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) The first child has the common cold. The second child has pneumonia.
Step 2. (b) The cold is caused by viruses, the rhinoviruses. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.
Step 3. (c) The alveoli, the air sacs of the lungs. They fill with fluid.
Step 4. (d) Droplets from a cough or a sneeze, and sharing of cups, glasses and other things with an infected person.
Answer: (a) the first child has a cold and the second pneumonia; (b) viruses and bacteria; (c) the alveoli; (d) droplets and shared objects.
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