Chapter 14 - Medical Overview Flashcards
communicable disease
a disease that can be spread from one person or species to another
epidemic
occurs when new cases of a disease in a human population substantially exceed the number expected based on recent experience
herpes simplex
a common virus that is asymptomatic in 80% of people carrying it, but characterized by small blisters on the lips or genitals in symptomatic infections
index of suspicion
awareness that unseen life-threatening injuries or illnesses my exist
infectious disease
a medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms in the body
influenza
a virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and infected humans and that kills thousands of people every year
medical emergencies
emergencies that are not caused by an outside force; illnesses or conditions
meningitis
an inflammation of the meningeal covering of the brain and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or bacterium
meningococcal meningitis
an inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord; can be highly contagious
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
a bacterium that can cause infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics; it is transmitted by different routes, including the respiratory route, and can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary tract
nature of illness
the general type of illness a patient is experiencing
pandemic
an outbreak that occurs on a global scale
trauma emergencies
emergencies that are the result of physical forces applied to the body, injuries
tuberculosis
a chronic bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other organs such as the brain and kidneys, it is spread by cough and can lie dormant in a person’s lungs for decades and then reactivate
virulence
the strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease
