1.2 Infection and disease NOT diseases

Question 1

Pathogen = an organism that causes …

Answer 1

damage to the host

Question 2

pathogenicity refers to ?

Answer 2

ability of a micro-organism to cause disease

Question 3

when the signs and symptoms of an illness appears what occurs ?

Answer 3

disease

Question 4

How does a person develop an infection ?

Answer 4

1. infectious agent
2. reservoir
3. route of exit
4. mode of transmission
5. route of entry
6. susceptible host

Question 5

Infectious agent is a microorganisms that is capable of … ?

Answer 5

causing disease

Question 6

3 examples of reservoir ?

Answer 6

• environment
• humans
• animals

Question 7

portal / route of exit 3 examples

Answer 7

• excretions
• skin
• droplets

Question 8

2 examples of mode of transmission ?

Answer 8

direct & indirect contact

Question 9

portal / route of entry 3 examples ?

Answer 9

• respiratory tract
• gastrointestinal tract
• breaks in the skin

Question 10

What are opportunistic pathogens ?

Answer 10

one that does not normally harm the host, but can cause disease if the host is susceptible

Question 11

What conditions make a host susceptible to opportunistic pathogens ?

Answer 11

• immunocompromised
• having HIV (HIV+)
• undergoing chemotherapy

Question 12

What is a primary or true pathogen ?

Answer 12

one that can cause disease in virtually any susceptible host

Question 13

How does a primary pathogen differ from an opportunistic pathogen ?

Answer 13

primary pathogen can cause disease in any susceptibel host

opportunistic pathogen typically only causes disease in hosts with weakened immune systems

Question 14

What is an inapparent (subclinical) infection?

Answer 14

no detectable symptoms are present in the host

Question 15

What characterizes a dormant (latent) infection?

Answer 15

the host carries the pathogen without showing symptoms

Question 16

What are opportunistic infections, and who is most at risk?

Answer 16

occur when the immune system of the host is compromised

individuals who are immunocompromised, have HIV, undergoing chemotherapy

Question 17

How does a primary infection differ from a secondary infection?

Answer 17

A primary infection is clinically apparent and the initial infection,

while a secondary infection occurs subsequent to the primary infection

Question 18

A mixed infection involves what ?

Answer 18

more than one microbe infecting the same tissue.

Question 19

What defines an acute infection?

Answer 19

infection that has a rapid onset and brief duration

Question 20

How is a chronic infection different from an acute infection?

Answer 20

A chronic infection has a prolonged duration, lasting for weeks, months, or even years.

Question 21

what is meant by a localized infection?

Answer 21

Infection that is confined to a small area or a specific organ

Question 22

what characterises a generalised infection ?

Answer 22

infection that’s disseminated to many body regions, affecting multiple areas of the body

Question 23

How well a pathogen is able to thrive and cause infection depends on ?

Answer 23

• pathogenicity - ability to cause a disease
• degree of virulence - how harmful
• invasiveness - tendency to spread