Health: The Ultimate Treasure
Keep the curiosity alive
1. Group the diseases shown in the images as communicable or non-communicable. 
Answer:-
1. Communicable diseases: Cold and flu, Typhoid, Chickenpox
2. Non-communicable diseases: Diabetes, Asthma
2. Diseases can be broadly grouped into communicable and non-communicable diseases. From the options given below, identify the non-communicable diseases.
(i) Typhoid (ii) Asthma (iii) Diabetes (iv) Measles
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii) (c) (i) and (iv) (d) (ii) and (iv)
Answer:- The non-communicable diseases from the given options are:
(ii) Asthma and (iii) Diabetes.
(b) (ii) and (iii)
3. There is a flu outbreak in your school. Several classmates are absent, while some are still coming to school coughing and sneezing.
(i) What immediate actions should the school take to prevent further spread?
Answer:-
- The school should encourage students showing flu symptoms to stay at home and rest.
- Teachers and staff must ensure classrooms and common areas are cleaned regularly.
- Everyone should be reminded to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
- Masks can be made compulsory for a few days.
- Awareness posters and announcements can help spread correct information.
- Availability of handwashing facilities and sanitizers must be ensured.
(ii) If your classmate, who shares the bench with you, starts showing symptoms of the flu, how can you respond in a considerate way without being rude or hurtful?
Answer:-
- You can politely ask them if they are feeling okay and suggest they visit the school nurse.
- Offer tissues if they are coughing or sneezing and gently remind them to cover their mouth and nose.
- You can say kindly, “It’s okay to rest at home for a day or two so you feel better soon.”
- Avoid making them feel embarrassed or isolated.
(iii) How can you protect yourself and others from getting infected in this situation?
Answer:-
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Keep your distance from those who are coughing or sneezing.
- Do not share personal items like water bottles, towels, or handkerchiefs.
- Wear a mask in crowded places.
- Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to keep your immunity strong.
4. Your family is planning to travel to another city where malaria is prevalent.
(i) What precautions should you take before, during, and after the trip?
Answer:-
Before the trip: Carry mosquito nets, repellents, and full-sleeved clothing. Talk to a doctor about any preventive medicines.
During the trip: Always sleep under mosquito nets, apply mosquito repellent on exposed skin, and avoid areas with stagnant water.
After the trip: Watch for symptoms like fever, chills, and sweating. If you feel unwell, visit a doctor immediately for proper testing and treatment.
(ii) How can you explain the importance of mosquito nets or repellents to your sibling?
Answer:-
1. You can say, “Mosquitoes spread diseases like malaria by biting us. Nets and repellents stop them from biting and keep us safe.”
2. “Sleeping under a mosquito net is like having a shield while we sleep. Repellents are like invisible protection when we are outside.”
(iii) What could happen if travellers ignore health advisories in such areas?
Answer:- If travellers ignore health advisories in areas where malaria is prevalent, they could get infected with malaria from mosquito bites, leading to symptoms like high fever, chills, and fatigue. This could result in severe illness, hospitalization, or even death if untreated. Ignoring advice like using mosquito nets or repellents can also increase the risk of spreading the disease to others upon return
5. Your uncle has started smoking just to fit in with his friends, even though it is well known that smoking can seriously harm health and even cause death.
(i) What would you say to him to make him stop, without being rude?
Answer:- If my uncle has started smoking just to fit in with his friends, I would speak to him with care and respect. I would tell him that I am really concerned about his health and that smoking is not the right way to make friends. I would gently remind him that smoking can cause serious health problems like lung disease, heart problems, and even cancer. I would say that people will respect him more if he makes wise decisions, and it’s better to set a good example for others in the family, especially the younger ones.
(ii) What would you do if your friend offers you a cigarette at a party?
Answer:- If a friend offers me a cigarette at a party, I would calmly refuse and say that I do not want to harm my health. I would not get angry or argue, but I would clearly let them know that I care about my well-being. I might also try to change the topic or walk away from that situation. Saying “no” firmly but politely shows self-respect and confidence. I would remember that real friends respect my choices and would not force me into bad habits.
(iii) How can schools help prevent students from indulging in such harmful habits?
Answer:- Schools can play a very important role in preventing students from taking up harmful habits like smoking. They can organize health awareness sessions to educate students about the dangers of smoking and other harmful substances. Teachers and counsellors can support students by talking to them openly and helping them deal with peer pressure. Schools can also promote healthy lifestyles through sports, yoga, meditation, and other positive activities. A school environment that encourages good habits and emotional support helps students make better choices in life.
6. Saniya claims to her friend Vinita that “Antibiotics can cure any infection, so we don’t need to worry about diseases.” What question(s) can Vinita ask her to help Saniya understand that her statement is incorrect?
Answer:- Vinita can ask Saniya the following questions to help her understand that her statement is incorrect:
1. “Do you know that antibiotics only kill bacteria and not viruses? So they don’t work for flu, cold, or other viral infections.”
2.”Have you heard about antibiotic resistance? Taking antibiotics when not needed can make bacteria stronger and harder to treat.”
3.”Did any doctor ever tell you that using antibiotics without proper advice can be harmful to your health?”
4.”Do you know that antibiotics should be taken only when prescribed, and in the correct dose and duration?”
5. “If antibiotics could cure all infections, why do we still need vaccines or other types of medicines?”
These questions can help Saniya understand that her statement is incorrect and that antibiotics must be used wisely.
7. The following table contains information about the number of dengue cases reported in a hospital over a period of one year:
Make a bar graph of the number of cases on the Y-axis and the month on the X-axis. Critically analyse your findings and answer the following:
Answer:-
(i) In which three months were the dengue cases highest?
Answer:- The three months with the highest dengue cases were July, August, and September, each with 65 cases.
(ii) In which month(s) were the cases lowest?
Answer:- The lowest cases were in December with 20 cases.
(iii) What natural or environmental factors during the peak months might contribute to the increase in dengue cases?
Answer:- During the peak months of July to September, factors like heavy rainfall, high humidity, and stagnant water from monsoons might contribute to an increase in dengue cases, as these conditions help mosquitoes breed more.
(iv) Suggest a few preventive steps that the community or government can take before the peak season to reduce the spread of dengue.
Answer:- Preventive steps include removing standing water, using mosquito nets and repellents, conducting fogging to kill mosquitoes, and educating the community about covering water containers and wearing protective clothing.
8. Imagine you are in charge of a school health campaign. What key messages would you use to reduce communicable and non-communicable diseases?
Answer:-
1. Wash hands regularly– Washing hands with soap removes harmful germs and helps stop the spread of infections like cold and flu.
2. Eat a balanced diet and exercise daily– Healthy food and regular physical activity keep the body strong and protect against long-term
diseases like obesity and diabetes.
3. Avoid sharing personal items– Items like bottles or towels may carry germs, so using your own things helps prevent infections.
4. Stay home when sick– Resting helps you recover and also protects classmates from getting infected.
5. Say “No” to harmful habits– Avoid smoking, alcohol, and too much screen time. These can harm your body and mind.
6. Manage stress and stay positive– Talk to friends or family, practice yoga or relaxation to keep your mind healthy and happy.
These few simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
9. It is recommended that we should not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold, a cough, or flu. Can you provide the possible reason for this recommendation?
Answer:- Yes, we should not take antibiotics for viral infections like cold, cough, or flu because antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. Cold, cough, and flu are caused by viruses, so antibiotics have no effect on them. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to antibiotic resistance, which means bacteria become stronger and stop responding to the medicine. This makes it harder to treat even simple infections in the future. That’s why doctors recommend using antibiotics only when necessary and prescribed.
10. Which disease(s) among the following may spread if drinking water gets contaminated by the excreta from an infected person?
Hepatitis A, Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Cholera, Chickenpox.
Answer:- The diseases that may spread if drinking water gets contaminated by the excreta from an infected person are Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis, and Cholera.
11. When our body encounters a pathogen for the first time, the immune response is generally low but on exposure to the same pathogen again, the immune response by the body is much more compared to the first exposure. Why is it so?
Answer:- When our body encounters a pathogen for the first time, the immune system takes time to recognise it and fight it, so the response is slow and low. But during this first attack, the body creates memory cells that remember the pathogen. If the same pathogen enters the body again, these memory cells quickly recognise it and start fighting it faster and more strongly. That’s why the immune response is much better during the second exposure-our body is already prepared to defend itself.
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