Biology 5090 · O Level · Disease

Disease — practice question

Syphilis is an infectious illness spread through sexual contact. A person’s blood can be checked for antibodies that are made after infection by the pathogen responsible for syphilis.
(a(i))[1]

State the type of pathogen responsible for syphilis.

(a(ii))[1]

State the blood component in an infected person that makes antibodies.

(a(iii))[1]

State the blood component in an infected person that carries these antibodies.

(b(i))[1]

Suggest why it is sensible for a person to wait until some time has passed after their most recent sexual contact before the test is done.

(b(ii))[2]

Fill in the table beneath by writing either the word yes or the word no in each box to show the meaning of each outcome.

(b(iii))[2]

State one first symptom shown by a person with primary stage syphilis. State the type of drug that should be given to a person with primary stage syphilis to stop the disease progressing to the secondary stage.

(c(i))[2]

Calculate the percentage increase in the number of reported syphilis cases in men between 2004 and 2012. Show your working.

(c(ii))[1]

Suggest why the actual increase in the number of syphilis cases in men may have been greater than the graph shows.

(c(iii))[2]

Suggest two recommendations that may be made to men in order to reduce the number of new syphilis infections.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 13-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: bacterium / bacteria / a spirochete / Treponema

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