Chp 15 Flashcards
What is a disease?
A condition in which the normal structure or functions of the body are damaged or impaired.
How can diseases be classified?
- Taxonomic categories. 2. The body system they affect. 3. Their longevity and severity. 4. How they are spread to their host. 5. The effects they have on populations.
What is the microbiome?
All of the microorganisms that are associated with a certain organism or environment.
What is the difference between transient microbiota and resident microbiota?
Transient microbiota: Microorganisms that come in contact with your body but can’t establish themselves there long-term; often includes pathogens. Resident microbiota: The microorganisms that constantly live on one’s body.
What is a primary pathogen?
A pathogen that causes disease in the host in almost every case.
What is an opportunistic pathogen?
A pathogen that can only cause disease in the host in some situations, such as when the host has reduced immune defenses (e.g., young children, elderly, immunocompromised individuals).
What are symptoms of a disease?
Subjective manifestations of disease experienced by the patient (e.g., pain, fatigue).
What are signs of a disease?
Objective manifestations of disease observed or measured by others (e.g., fever, rash).
What is a syndrome?
A specific set of symptoms and signs that characterize a disease or an abnormal condition.
What is an asymptomatic or subclinical infection?
An infection that lacks symptoms but may still have signs of infection.
What is an acute disease?
A disease where symptoms develop rapidly and run their course quickly (e.g., common cold).
What is a chronic disease?
A disease that usually has mild symptoms that develop slowly and last a long time (e.g., tuberculosis, leprosy).
What is a latent disease?
A disease that appears a long time after infection (e.g., herpes).
What is a communicable disease?
A disease that can be transmitted from one person to another (e.g., influenza, tuberculosis).
What is a contagious disease?
A communicable disease that is easily spread (e.g., chickenpox, measles).
What is a noncommunicable disease?
A disease that cannot be spread from person to person (e.g., acne).
What is a primary infection?
The initial infection within a given patient (e.g., HIV followed by oral thrush).
What is a secondary infection?
An infection that follows a primary infection, often caused by opportunistic pathogens.
What are the five stages of infectious disease?
- Incubation period. 2. Prodromal period. 3. Illness. 4. Decline. 5. Convalescence.
What is the incubation period of a disease?
The interval between initial infection and the first signs and symptoms.
What is the prodromal period of a disease?
A short period after incubation where early, mild symptoms appear.
What is the period of illness in a disease?
The stage where the disease is most severe.
What is the period of decline in a disease?
The stage where signs and symptoms of the disease begin to subside.
What is the period of convalescence in a disease?
The stage where the body returns to its pre-diseased state.
What is pathogenicity?
The ability of an infectious agent to cause disease.
What is virulence?
The degree to which an organism is pathogenic (i.e., how severe the disease it causes can be).
What is the spectrum of virulence?
The range from avirulent (not harmful) to highly virulent (almost always disease-causing).
What is ID50?
The median infectious dose, which is the number of pathogenic agents (cells or virions) required to cause infection in 50% of the population.
What is LD50?
The median lethal dose, which is the number of pathogenic agents required to kill 50% of the population.
