Download Module 8 IQ 2

MODULE 8: NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND
DISORDERS
IQ2 – CAUSES AND RESPONSES
Contents
Lesson 1: Causes of Disease
Lesson 2: Types of Disease
Lesson 3: Data Analysis-Melanoma
Lesson 4: Incidence of non-infectious vs infectious diseases
Module 8: Non-infectious Diseases and Disorders
Causes and responses
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Outcomes
By completing this module, you are working towards achieving the
following outcomes:
›
analyses and evaluates primary and secondary data and information
BIO11/12-5
›
solves scientific problems using primary and secondary data, critical thinking
skills and scientific processes BIO11/12-6
›
communicates scientific understanding using suitable language and
terminology for a specific audience or purpose BIO11/12-7
›
conducts investigations to collect valid and reliable primary and secondary
data and information BIO11/12-3
›
explains non-infectious disease and disorders and a range of technologies and
methods used to assist, control, prevent and treat non-infectious disease
BIO12-15
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Causes and responses
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Introduction
Inquiry question: Do non-infectious diseases cause more deaths than
infectious diseases?
Students:
●
●
investigate the causes and effects of non-infectious diseases in humans,
including but not limited to:
–
genetic diseases
–
diseases caused by environmental exposure
–
nutritional diseases
–
cancer
collect data that shows the incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of
non-infectious disease, for example:
– nutritional diseases
– diseases caused by environmental exposure
This week has four lessons for you to complete:
Lesson 1: Causes of Disease
Lesson 2: Types of Disease
Lesson 3: Data Analysis
Lesson 4: Investigation
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Causes and responses
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Lesson 1: Causes of Disease
Non-infectious diseases account for nearly two thirds of deaths world-wide. In
developed countries these diseases are due to risk factors such as poor diet,
tobacco use, alcohol consumption and inactivity. In developing countries, the
risk factors are lack of food, limited access to clean water and poor hygiene.
It is expected by 2020 non-infectious disease will account for 73% of all deaths
and 60% of the global burden of disease. The term burden of disease refers to
quantitative measures of the impact of a disease on an individual or population.
By studying the incidence and prevalence and mortality rates of disease, we can
better understand where and how to intervene to make the most difference.ssful
A non–infectious disease differs from an infectious disease in that they do
not involve a pathogenic organism and therefore cannot be transmitted from one
person to another.
Non–infectious diseases can fall into several different categories depending on
the causes, effects and degree of human impact. These can include:

Genetic or inherited diseases like cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, albinism,
down-syndrome, sickle-cell anaemia, phenylketonuria, and Huntington’s
disease.

Nutritional diseases like scurvy, rickets, liver disease and obesity.

Environmental exposure diseases such as hypersensitivity (allergies),
heavy metal poisoning, asbestosis and industrial deafness.

Cancers, both generalised and those affecting specific tissue or organs
such as the lungs, skin, brain, cervix or prostate.
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Newborn with albinism
Table 1: Leading causes of death in Australia in 2015.
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Answer these questions, then self-mark using the answers provided.
Use the table to answers questions 1 and 2.
1. What is the leading cause of death in Australia?
2. The top four leading causes of death in Australia are from what type of
diseases?
3. Which of the following groups all contain possible causes of non-infectious
disease?
a) Pathogen, aging, repetitive strain
b) Poor hygiene, bacteria, air pollution
c) Viruses, malnutrition, poorly preserved food
d) Environmental toxins, poor diet, deficient chromosomes
4. Which of the following is an example of a non-infectious disease?
a) Polio
b) Malaria
c) Diphtheria
d) Nutritional deficiency
5. Non-infectious diseases are best described as diseases that are caused by:
a) Non-infectious particles
b) Environmental factors such as excessive exposure to UV radiation form
the sun
c) Non-infectious agents such as genetics or prions
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d) Factors other than living organisms or agents
6. Which of the following is not a type of non-infectious disease?
a) lifestyle diseases
b) environmental diseases
c) genetic disease
d) herpes diseases
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Lesson 2: Types of Disease
2.1 Types of disease
1. Genetic Diseases
Genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, and down-syndrome result
from the incorrect expression or alteration (mutation) of existing human genes.
DNA mutations can be small (single base pair) or extensive (whole
chromosomes) and can have wide ranging implications and effects on gene
expression, protein production and body function. As genetic mutations can be
passed down to offspring, so can these diseases.
Sickle–Cell Anaemia
Cause
Sickle-cell anaemia is caused by a mutation in a gene that tells the body to
make haemoglobin. The blood cells become misshapen and breaks down. It is an
autosomal recessive disorder, therefore, both parents must carry the gene in
order for it to be passed on to offspring.
Normal red blood cells and sickle–shaped red blood cells.
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Effects
There is not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen and this
leads to fatigue, painful swelling in the hands and feet, and frequent infections.
The misshapen cells are much less efficient at carrying oxygen around the body.
The sickled cells block the capillaries causing intense pain and death of the
surrounding tissue.
Affected people who are homozygous (have both copies of this mutated gene)
rarely live past the age of ten. In the heterozygous form, the anaemia is only
experienced when the person is under stress from exercise or high altitude.
The heterozygous form has an adaptive advantage in malarial areas, as these
people are less likely to die from the malaria parasite (Plasmodium). Their red
blood cells rapidly sickle killing the Plasmodium parasite before it can complete
its life cycle.
Down Syndrome
Cause
The diagram below shows the arrangement of chromosomes is a person with the
condition often known as Down syndrome. This condition is also known as
trisomy 21 (there is an additional chromosome 21) and is an inherited genetic
inherited disease.
Chromosomes for Down syndrome
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This is a genetic disease caused by chromosomes inherited from parents. The
only preventative measure is genetic counselling of couples at risk (it is more
prevalent in babies born to older parents than in babies born to younger
parents).
Effects
The effects of Down syndrome vary in individuals but include many of the
following:

prominent forehead

flattened nasal bridge

an habitually open mouth

projecting lower lip

skin fold at the inner corners of the eye

intellectual disability

heart defects
Answer these questions, then self-mark using the answers provided.
1. What do scientists mean when they say that a disease is genetic?
a) It is inherited
b) You acquire it through your lifetime
c) It is congenital
d) It is communicable
2. How many individual chromosomes is a person supposed to have?
a) 21
b) 23
c) 46
d) 47
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3. How many individual chromosomes does a person with Down syndrome
have?
a) 21
b) 23
c) 46
d) 47
4. Give three (3) effects or symptoms of Down syndrome.
5. Using your knowledge of red-blood cell structure, suggest why sickle-shaped
red blood cells would cause problems.
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2. Diseases Caused by Environmental Exposure
Some diseases are caused by factors in the environment that can cause harm.
There are many different types of environmental diseases including:

Lifestyle diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diseases caused by
substance abuse such as alcoholism and smoking.

Diseases caused by exposure to chemicals in the environment, home or
workplace, such as lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is caused by exposure
to high levels of lead in the atmosphere, soil and products used in
everyday life.

Diseases caused by physical factors in the environment. For example, skin
cancer is caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolent radiation in
sunlight.
Skin Cancer
Causes
Skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolent radiation in
sunlight. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that usually develops when a mole
becomes cancerous. The UV light causes changes to the DNA of the skin cells,
which may cause continued abnormal cell division. This can lead to the
formation of basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas or malignant
melanomas.
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Skin cancer (melanoma)
Effects
Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer and tumours start in the
pigment producing melanocytes in the skin. New or unusual growths on the skin
or changes to moles are often the first signs of the effect of melanoma.Malignant
cells can spread to other parts of the body.
Answer these questions, then self-mark using the answers provided.
1. Fuel containing lead (in the form of tetraethyl lead) was used for many years
in Australia until it was phased out in 2002. Suggest why leaded fuel was
banned.
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2. Melanoma is a disease linked to ultraviolent radiation. To what category of
disease does melanoma belong?
a) Viral
b) Infectious
c) Nutritional
d) Environmental
3. You may have heard the terms ‘benign’ and ‘malignant’ before in relation to
cancer. What is the difference between a benign and malignant cancer?
4. Nutritional Diseases
Nutritional diseases are caused when an organism’s diet lacks the proper balance
and amount of essential nutrients. They can also be caused by psychological
conditions that lead to poor dietary choices.
Imbalances one’s diet leads to a condition known as malnutrition. There are
two broad categories of malnutrition:
1. Under-nutrition - insufficient intake of the correct type of food, quantity of
food, or a combination of both and,
2. Over-nutrition - excessive intake of food.
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The table below lists some nutritional diseases and their cause.
Disease
Caused by
Scurvy
Lack of vitamin C
obesity
Overeating and/ or inadequate exercise
coronary heart
Some forms of this disease are related to diet e.g. high
disease
cholesterol intake.
rickets
vitamin D deficiency
pellagra
niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency
Scurvy
Cause
Scurvy is caused by insufficient intake of vitamin C. Scurvy was a common
disease on ships prior to the 1850s. The inability to carry fresh fruit and
vegetables on long ocean voyages resulted in many nutritional diseases among
ship’s crew.
The only way to acquire scurvy is to have inadequate vitamin C intake. The
disease cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Scurvy can be cured
by giving the sufferer regular doses of vitamin C and modifying diet to ensure
that the minimum required daily intake of vitamin C is achieved.
Eating citrus fruit high in vitamin C is one way of preventing scurvy
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Effects
The effects of scurvy are fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, fever,
painful joints, scaly skin, bleeding gums and even the loss of teeth, to name a
few.
Answer these questions, then self-mark using the answers provided.
1. Scurvy is a disease that is caused by a lack of vitamin C. Cystic fibrosis is a
disease caused by a mutation to the gene that affects mucous production.
Artherosclerosis is a disease caused by lifestyle factors such as lack of
exercise, smoking, unbalanced diet and high levels of stress.
Which of the following options correctly classifies each of these diseases
respectively.
a) environmental, genetic, nutritional
b) nutritional, genetic, environmental
c) nutritional, environmental, genetic
d) environmental, nutritional, genetic
2. Scurvy was common among sailors on long naval journeys. Suggest why.
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4. Cancer
Cancer is a disease of the cells of the body. It occurs when abnormal cells divide
in an uncontrolled way. These cells can invade body tissue near them, spread to
other tissues and disrupt the normal functioning of the body.
Cancer or tumour is the term used to describe the collections of these cells
growing and potentially spreading within the body. Cancerous cells can arose
from almost any type of tissue.
Tumours are either benign (do not spread beyond the immediate area in which
they arise) or malignant (cells spread into surrounding areas or different parts of
the body).
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Causes of Cancer
The causes of cancer are usually described as risk factors. Each form of cancer
has different risk factors.
We do not know all of the risks and causes of cancer. However, there are a
number of chemical, physical and biological agents that have been shown to
trigger the mistakes in the cell blueprint that cause cancer. These are called
carcinogens and include tobacco, ultraviolet radiation and asbestos. (Mutagens
that cause cancer are referred to as carcinogens).
About one third of deaths worldwide from cancer are caused by the following
behavioural and nutritional risks:





Being overweight or obese
Having a low fruit and vegetable intake
Lack of physical exercise
Tobacco use
Alcohol use
It is important to note that not all cancers are associated to the risk factors
mentioned above. Cancer can sometimes develop without any specific causes.
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Lesson 3: Data Analysis -Melanoma
Non-infectious disease is the cause of 70% of deaths globally, with lifestyle
diseases responsible for 63% of these deaths. Data relating to the incidence,
mortality and prevalence of many types of non-infectious disease can be
collected and analysed to identify patterns in populations.
The incidence of a disease refers to the number of new cases of that disease
reported in a specific time period (usually a year). The prevalence of a disease
is the number of people in a particular population that have been diagnosed with
that disease and are still alive at the end of a given time period.
Note: The prevalence of a disease is how many people in the population have
that disease whereas the incidence is how many new cases of the disease are
diagnosed within a given time period.
The mortality rate of a disease is the number of deaths due to a particular
disease in a specific time period (usually one year). The incidence and mortality
rates are usually expressed as a number per 100 000 population.
Such data is used to determine:

The trends associated with particular diseases

Whether certain groups are more susceptible to particular diseases

Whether methods in used for preventing and treating the disease are
successful

The pathway for research and areas to concentrate on in terms of public
health.
If you have access to a computer and internet this week copy the link
below into your browser or follow the link on elearning “website 2” to
gain a further understanding of the increase of deaths due to noninfectious diseases.
https://www.cfr.org/interactives/diseases-noncommunicable#!/
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Deaths from melanoma and other skin cancers per million persons in 2012
Answer these questions, then self-mark using the answers provided.
1. The table below shows projected data for some of the most common cancers
diagnosed in Australia. What does the data represent?
Cancer type
New cases 2017
Breast
17 586
Bowel
16 682
Melanoma
13 941
Lung
12 434
a) The burden of disease
b) Incidence rates
c) Prevalence rates
d) Mortality
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2. The number of deaths due to a particular disease in a specific time period is
known as what?
a) Prevalence
b) mortality rate
c) incidence
d) survival rate
Environmental Exposure - Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of cancer that can be caused by environmental exposure to
UV light as discussed in the previous lesson. The following information about
melanoma is data that has been collected on the incidence, prevalence and
mortality rates for the Australia population as a whole and also data that relates
to the incidence, mortality and prevalence of melanoma in the world.
If you have access to a computer and internet this week copy the link
below into your browser or follow the link on elearning “website 2” to
gain a further understanding of the statistics gathered for melanoma in
Australia.
https://melanoma.canceraustralia.gov.au/statistics
Incidence of Melanoma
Melanoma skin cancer was the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia
in 2015. It is estimated that it will remain the 4th most commonly diagnosed
cancer in 2019.
In 2019, it is estimated that 15,229 new cases of melanoma skin cancer will be
diagnosed in Australia (8,899 males and 6,330 females). In 2019, it is estimated
that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer by
their 85th birthday will be 1 in 17 (1 in 13 males and 1 in 21 females).
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Table 2: Incidence of melanoma in Australia
3. What is the difference between the terms incidence and incidence rate?
4. Make a statement that identifies the pattern for incidence and incidence rate
for melanoma in males and females.
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Table 3: Incidence of melanoma by age group
Referring to table 3:
For 2016:
5. In which age group was the highest number of new cases of melanoma
diagnosed?
6. Which age group had the highest age-specific incidence rate?
Which age group had the lowest age-specific incidence rate?
For 1982–2016:
7. Describe the trend in the number of new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the
age groups 50–59 and above.
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8. Describe the trend in the number of new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the
age groups 0–39 and 40–49.
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Figure 1: Incidence of melanoma in different countries of the world
The age standardised incidence rates for melanoma indifferent countries of the
world are shown below.
Which country or region of the world has the:
9. Highest age-standardised incidence rate of melanoma in the world?
10.
Lowest age-standardised incidence rate of melanoma in the world?
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Mortality rates of melanoma
In 2016, the age–standardised mortality rate was 4.5 deaths per 100,000
persons (6.6 for males and 2.7 for females). In 2019, it is estimated that the
age–standardised mortality rate will increase to 5.6 deaths per 100,000 persons
(8.3 for males and 3.3 for females). The mortality rate of melanoma skin cancer
is expected to increase with age.
Table 4: Mortality rates for melanoma in Australia
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Prevalence of melanoma in Australia
At the end of 2014, there were 12,887 people living who had been diagnosed
with melanoma skin cancer that year, 55,128 people living who had been
diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2010 to
2014) and 183,561 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma skin
cancer in the previous 33 years (from 1982 to 2014).
Table 5: Prevalence of melanoma in the Australian population
Year diagnosed
2013
2008-2013
1982-2013
Females
5 242
22 766
83 780
Males
7 287
30 449
92 715
Total
12 529
53 215
176 495
The prevalence of a specific disease can also be used to calculate the survival
rate associated with that disease.
In 2011–2015, individuals diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer had a 91.0%
chance (89.1% for males and 93.7% for females) of surviving for 5 years
compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between
1986–1990 and 2011–2015, 5–year relative survival from melanoma skin cancer
improved from 87.7% to 91.0%.
Table 6: Five year survival rates for melanoma in Australia
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
– 1989
- 1994
– 1999
– 2004
– 2009
- 2014
Males
82.9
87.1
89.2
89.8
88.7
88.6
Females
91.4
92.9
93.8
94.2
93.7
93.6
Total
87.2
89.8
91.3
91.7
90.8
90.7
11. Write a statement that compares the 5-year survival rate for the total
population and for males and females in 2009–2013.
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Answers:
1. B
2. C
3. Incidence refers to the total number of new cases whereas incidence rate is the number per 100 000 in a population.
4. The incidence rates are higher in males when compared to females.
5. 60-69
6. 80+
7. 0-39
8. Increasing each year
9. Increased initially until 2002 than decreased
10. New Zealand
11. Northern Africa
12. Survival rates for the total population and also for males and females have decreased slightly.
Lesson 4: Incidence of non-infectious
vs infectious diseases
This week’s work has looked at the Inquiry question: Do non-infectious
diseases cause more deaths than infectious diseases?
Historically, infectious disease has been the leading cause of death in the world.
With the advent of improved measures to prevent and treat infectious diseases,
non-infectious disease is now the leading cause of death globally.
4.1 Investigation
Aim: To use data to determine whether non-infectious disease causes more
deaths than infectious disease.
Method:
1. Refer to the table which list the top 10 causes of death globally in 2015 and
2000 respectively. In the % column in each table, calculate the percentage
figure for deaths from each cause.
Table 7: Top ten causes of death globally, 2015
Cause of death
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer disease and other dementias
Diarrhoeal diseases
Tuberculosis
Road injury
Total number of deaths
Number (millions)
8.76
6.24
3.19
3.17
1.69
1.59
1.54
1.39
1.37
1.34
54.7
Module 8: Non-infectious Diseases and Disorders
Set 2: Causes and responses
% of total
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Table 8: Top ten causes of death globally, 2000
Cause of death
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Diarrhoeal diseases
Tuberculosis
HIV/AIDS
Preterm birth complications
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
Birth asphyxia and birth trauma
Number (millions)
6.88
5.41
3.41
2.95
2.18
1.67
1.46
1.34
1.26
1.12
Total number of deaths
56.4
% of total
Discussion: Use the information in tables 1, 7 and 8 to answer the questions
in the activities booklet.
Conclusion:
1. Complete this paragraph to summarise the finding of this investigation by
choosing the correct word.
Increasing, higher, dark, developed, steadied, fair, highest
The incidence rate of melanoma in Australia has
mortality rate is
, and the rate of both is
for males than females.
Predominantly
, the
-skinned populations throughout the world have
a lower incidence of melanoma than
-skinned populations.
Fair-skinned populations in higher latitudes, such as Australia and New Zealand,
have the
rates of melanoma in the world.
The prevalence of melanoma is increasing in Australia and is greater in the more
regions of the world.
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Set 2: Causes and responses
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Answers:
1.
Cause of death
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer disease and other dementias
Diarrhoeal diseases
Tuberculosis
Road injury
Total number of deaths
Number (millions)
8.76
6.24
3.19
3.17
1.69
1.59
1.54
1.39
1.37
1.34
54.7
% of total
16
11.4
5.8
5.8
3.1
2.9
2.8
2.5
2.5
2.4
Cause of death
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Diarrhoeal diseases
Tuberculosis
HIV/AIDS
Preterm birth complications
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
Birth asphyxia and birth trauma
Number (millions)
6.88
5.41
3.41
2.95
2.18
1.67
1.46
1.34
1.26
1.12
% of total
12.2
9.6
6
5.2
3.9
3
2.6
3.4
2.2
2
Total number of deaths
56.4
2.
Ischaemic heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory infections
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Diarrhoeal diseases
Tuberculosis
HIV/AIDS
Preterm birth complications
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
Birth asphyxia and birth trauma
Diabetes mellitus
Alzheimer disease and other dementias
Road injury
Noninfectious or infectious
N
N
I
N
I
I
I
N
N
N
N
N
N
3. Steadied, increasing, higher, dark, fair, highest, developed
4.2 Population screening
Population-based cancer screening is an organised, systematic and integrated
process of testing for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in populations without
obvious symptoms. In Australia, there are
national population-based screening programs for
breast, cervical and bowel cancers. They are run
through partnerships between the Australian
Government and state and territory governments.
The programs target particular populations and
age groups where evidence shows screening is
most effective at reducing cancer-related
morbidity and mortality.
National Cervical Screening Program
The National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP), established in 1991, targets
women aged 20–69 for a 2-yearly Papanicolau smear, or ‘Pap test’.
What has happened since the introduction of this screening program?
• High attendance for screening means that more cervical abnormalities can be
detected and treated that could otherwise develop into cervical cancer, leading
to a reduction in cervical cancer incidence and mortality.
• In 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, more than 3.8 million women aged 20–69
participated in the NCSP, which is around 58% of the eligible population.
• Participation in 2012–2013 was similar across remoteness areas—highest in
Inner regional areas (60%) and lowest in Very remote locations (55%), but
increased with increasing socioeconomic position (from 52% in the lowest
socioeconomic group to 64% in the highest group).
• Participation has remained steady since 2004–2005 at around 57%–59%
(Figure 6.2.2 on next page)
• For every 1,000 women screened, around 8 have a high-grade abnormality
detected, providing an opportunity for treatment before possible progression to
cervical cancer.
In December 2017, the Cervical Screening Test replaced the Pap test in
Australia. The two yearly Pap test for people aged 18 to 69 has been replaced by
a five yearly human papillomavirus (HPV) test for people aged 25 to 74. People
are due for their first Cervical Screening Test at the age of 25 or two years after
their last Pap test. The changes include:
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Set 2: Causes and responses
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
a more accurate Cervical Screening Test has replaced the Pap test

the time between tests has changed from two to five years

the age at which screening starts has increased from 18 years to 25
years, or two years after the last Pap test if the Pap test was done at the
age of 23 or over

people aged 70 to 74 years will be invited to have a Cervical Screening
Test.
The Cervical Screening Test is more effective than the Pap test at preventing
cervical cancers, because it detects the human papillomavirus (known as HPV),
whereas the Pap test looked for cell changes in the cervix. HPV is a common
infection that can cause cervical cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer
The incidence and mortality rates due to cervical cancer have halved in Australia
since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 1991.
Please complete these questions in Activities Booklet.
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Set 2: Causes and responses
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