Chapter 19: Epidemiology - Basics Concepts of Epidemiology Flashcards
1
Q
What does sporadic mean?
A
- disease occurs only occasionally
ex. Botulism
2
Q
What does endemic mean?
A
- disease occurs at fairly constant levels
ex. malaria, the common cold
3
Q
What is an epidemic?
A
- Disease occurs in unusually high numbers
ex. influenza
4
Q
What are emerging infectious diseases? (2)
A
- Newly identified
- notable number of cases
ex. MERS, WEST NILE virus
5
Q
What is a reservoir?
A
- Source of the infectious agent
- can be objects, food, living things, etc
6
Q
What are human reservoirs?
A
- People harbour pathogens and transmit them to others
7
Q
At what stage can germs be transmitted between others?
A
Any of the stages
- incubation, period of illness, convalescence, prodromal, period of decline
8
Q
What are carriers?
A
people who can transmit pathogens without having any signs of disease themselves
ex. typhoid mary - Salmonella typhi
9
Q
In terms of animal reservoirs, what is zoonosis?
A
- a disease that occurs in animals, but can be transmitted to humans
10
Q
What are examples of zoonosis? (3)
A
influenza - birds, pigs
rabies - bats, skunks, foxes, etc
Lyme disease - field mice (but transferred by ticks)
11
Q
What are non-living reservoirs? (3)
A
- soil and water are most important
ex. C. tetani in soil causes tetanus - fomite
12
Q
What are fomites?
A
- any non-living object that spreads pathogens
ex. used kleenex, used syringe
