Introduction to human diseases

Lina is seeing the doctor today. A part of her body, the pancreas, is not working properly. Because of that her body is not working normally either - Lina has a disease. Lina’s disease is called Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes is a permanent - or chronic disease, that Lina got when she was very young.

Lina’s parents knew something was wrong when Lina was hungry and thirsty all the time but was still losing weight. She was also constantly tired and in a bad mood. Lina was showing signs - or symptoms, of a disease. This is why Lina’s parents took her to the doctor. The doctor listened to Lina’s parents describing the symptoms and did some tests.

Based on that, she knew what disease Lina had - she could diagnose Lina with diabetes. But she didn’t know exactly why Lina got the disease. The doctor knew her grandfather had diabetes. Maybe he passed on some characteristics - or traits, to Lina’s mum, that Lina inherited as well. Because one of Lina’s family members had diabetes, she was at a greater risk to also have the disease.

But not all diseases are long-term - chronic, or passed on in families. Sometimes they are spread from person to person. Like colds! Lina has them quite often. And sometimes she accidentally sneezes on Leon.

The droplets from Lina’s sneeze carry microorganisms, like viruses, that might make Leon cough and sneeze - he will start showing symptoms of an infection. The cold is an infectious disease. Infectious diseases spread quickly, especially in crowded places, like busy train stations, because there is a lot of contact between people. We can prevent diseases and infecting other people with good hygiene. We should wash our hands and sneeze into a handkerchief or an elbow.

Humans can also get infectious diseases from drinking dirty water or eating contaminated food. The symptoms of these diseases are often stomach aches and diarrhea. Even animals can carry microorganisms that spread infectious diseases! Like mosquitoes that bite humans and infect them with a parasite. Humans can have infectious diseases, like a cold, and they can have chronic diseases that last a lifetime, like diabetes.

Even though Lina has a long-term disease, she learned how to live life as normally as possible. And she can do everything her friends can. Even play football with Leon!