Skip to main content
Ch. 24 - Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory System
Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTortora 14th EditionCh. 24 - Microbial Diseases of the Respiratory SystemProblem 1
Chapter 24, Problem 1

<IMAGE>
Show the location of the following diseases: common cold, COVID-19, diphtheria, coccidioidomycosis, influenza, pneumonia, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, and whooping cough.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand that the problem asks you to locate diseases on a diagram of the human body, specifically focusing on where these diseases primarily affect or manifest.
Step 2: Identify the organ systems or body parts involved with each disease. For example, the common cold, COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, and whooping cough primarily affect the respiratory system (nose, throat, lungs).
Step 3: Recognize that diphtheria and scarlet fever also affect the respiratory tract but can have systemic effects, so mark them around the throat and upper respiratory tract.
Step 4: Note that tuberculosis mainly affects the lungs but can also affect other organs; place it primarily in the lungs area.
Step 5: Understand that coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection that primarily affects the lungs, so locate it in the lung region as well.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Respiratory System Anatomy

Understanding the structure of the respiratory system, including the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, is essential to locate where respiratory diseases manifest. Different pathogens affect specific parts, so knowing these locations helps in mapping diseases accurately.
Recommended video:
Guided course
08:18
Leaf & Chloroplast Anatomy

Pathogenesis and Disease Localization

Each respiratory disease targets particular tissues or regions within the respiratory tract. For example, common cold viruses infect the upper respiratory tract, while pneumonia affects the lungs. Recognizing these patterns aids in identifying the disease sites on anatomical diagrams.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:35
Intro to Bacterial Pathogenesis

Etiology of Respiratory Diseases

Knowing the causative agents—viruses, bacteria, or fungi—of each disease (e.g., COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, diphtheria by Corynebacterium diphtheriae) helps understand their infection mechanisms and preferred sites within the respiratory system, which is crucial for accurate localization.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:57
Communicable vs. Noncommunicable Diseases
Related Practice
Textbook Question

The 19 in COVID-19 signifies that

a. this is the 19th coronavirus epidemic.

b. this is 19th known coronavirus.

c. there are 19 strains of Betacoronavirus.

d. the virus was identified in 2019.

e. the symptoms last for 19 days.

826
views
Textbook Question

Compare and contrast mycoplasmal pneumonia and viral pneumonia.

1262
views
Textbook Question

A patient has fever, difficulty breathing, chest pains, fluid in the pulmonary alveoli, and a positive tuberculin skin test. Gram-positive cocci are isolated from the sputum. The recommended treatment is

a. A macrolide.

b. Antitoxin.

c. Isoniazid.

d. Tetracyclines.

e. None of the above.

1277
views