Interactions Between Different Types Of Disease (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Synergy: Life & Environmental Sciences): Revision Note

Interactions & Disease

• Different types of disease may interact in ways that negatively affect the health of the individual

  • Defects in the immune system mean that an individual is more likely to suffer from infectious diseases

    • e.g. individuals infected with HIV eventually end up with reduced numbers of lymphocytes circulating the body, which reduces the ability of the immune system to fight opportunistic infections like pneumonia

  • Viruses living in cells can be the trigger for cancers

    • e.g. the HPV virus can infect cells of the cervix in women, resulting in cervical cancer developing in some cases, whereas some strains of the hepatitis virus can cause liver cancer

  • Immune reactions initially caused by a pathogen can trigger allergies such as skin rashes and asthma - these often develop as a result of an overactive immune response

  • Severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other mental illness