Name that Germ
This type of disease agent causes the common cold, flu, and COVID-19.
Virus
Runny nose, sneezing, and a cough are common symptoms of this everyday illness.
Common cold; these symptoms can overlap with other illnesses.
Covering a cough helps reduce the spread of germs released in these tiny drops.
Respiratory droplets
Use soap and water to clean these before eating and after using the restroom.
Hands
This term means the time between becoming infected and developing the first symptoms.
Incubation period
This type of disease agent causes strep throat and whooping cough.
Bacteria
Scalp itching and a crawling feeling in the hair are clues to this condition.
Head lice
Sharing a drink can spread mono through this body fluid.
Saliva
Avoid sharing these personal items to help prevent ringworm. Name two.
Any two: towels, clothing, shoes, or sports equipment.
A student has an itchy scalp. Finding this living organism provides stronger evidence of lice than itching alone.
A live crawling louse
Ringworm and athlete's foot are caused by this type of disease agent.
Fungus
Fever, painful mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet suggest this illness.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Walking barefoot on a contaminated locker-room floor can expose someone to the fungus that causes this condition.
Athlete's foot
Antibiotics can treat strep throat but do not treat a cold. Explain why.
Antibiotics fight bacteria; colds are caused by viruses.
Two students have sore throats. One has extreme tiredness lasting weeks. Which illness should be considered alongside strep, and what clue supports it?
Mono, supported by prolonged extreme tiredness.
Head lice belong to this group of organisms that live on or in a host.
Parasites
Extreme tiredness, a sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes in a teenager suggest this illness.
Mononucleosis, or mono
A student says lice jump between people. Describe how lice actually move and their main route of spread.
Lice crawl and mainly spread through direct hair-to-hair contact.
Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Explain what dehydration means and what treatment helps replace the loss.
Losing too much body fluid; treatment replaces fluids and salts.
A student has cough, fever, and body aches. Name two illnesses with overlapping symptoms and explain what could help distinguish them.
Flu and COVID-19; appropriate testing can help distinguish them. Accept other supported comparisons.
Pink eye can have these two infectious causes, or a noninfectious cause such as allergies.
Viruses and bacteria
A student says, "A cough and fever prove I have the flu." Explain why that conclusion is too strong.
Symptoms overlap with other illnesses, so more evidence or testing is needed.
Several students develop vomiting after eating food handled by someone with norovirus. Explain how the virus could have reached them.
Contaminated hands transferred the virus to food, which the students swallowed.
A student with mono feels better and wants to return to contact sports immediately. Explain why medical clearance matters
Mono can enlarge the spleen, which could rupture during contact sports.
A student has fever, a severe headache, and a stiff neck. Explain the immediate action and why waiting to solve the case is inappropriate.
Alert an adult immediately and seek emergency medical care; these signs can indicate a serious illness such as meningococcal disease.