Communicable Disease Definitions

Question 1

Antigen

Answer 1

Foreign substance inducing formation of antibodies

Question 2

Body burden

Answer 2

Total effect on body from exposure to chemical.

Question 3

Contact

Answer 3

a person or animal that has been in association with an infected person or contaminated environment that might provide an opportunity to acquire the infective agent

Question 4

Contamination

Answer 4

Presence of an infectious agent on a body surface or on another surface including inanimate articles.

Question 5

Pollution

Answer 5

Presence of offencive but not necessarily infectious matter in the environment.

Question 6

Disinfection

Answer 6

Application of chemicals to materials for the purpose of killing pathogenic organisms. May not be totally effective.

Question 7

Disinfestation

Answer 7

Process serving to destroy animal forums especially anthropoids are rodents. Includes delousing.

Question 8

Endemic

Answer 8

Constant presence of a disease within a given geographic area.

Question 9

Hyperendemic

Answer 9

Expresses a persistent intense transmission

Question 10

Holoendemic

Answer 10

High level of infection beginning early in the life and affecting most of the population. For example of malaria.

Question 11

Endotoxin

Answer 11

A toxin produced within the cell that is liberated when the cell dies. List causes pathologic damage to surrounding tissue. Most known varieties of endotoxins withstand autoclaving.

Question 12

Enterotoxin

Answer 12

Toxin produced by microorganisms that is secreted in the gastrointestinal tract. Associated with symptoms of food poisoning. Heat stable.

Examples of bacteria known to secrete this type of toxin are: e-coli, clostridium perfringens, vibrio cholera, staphylococcus aureus, and yersinia enterocolitica

Question 13

Epidemic

Answer 13

Occurrence of cases of illness in excess of what would be expected in a regional area. Depending on the illness, one case could be cause for epidemiological investigation.

Question 14

Exotoxin

Answer 14

Toxin produced by microorganism and secreted into the surrounding med

bacteria associated with exotoxins: e coli, staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pyogenes, clostridium perfringens, shigella, and clostridium botulinum.

Question 15

Lc50

Answer 15

median lethal concentration of a substance in the air causing death in 50% of the animals exposed by inhalation. Measure of acute toxicity.

Question 16

Ld-50

Answer 16

Lethal dose, causing death in 50% of animals exposed by swallowing a substance. Measure of acute toxicity

Question 17

Neurotoxin

Answer 17

A toxin that attacks nerve cells. For example botulism.

Question 18

Non infectious or non-communicable disease

Answer 18

chronic degenerative and insidious disease that usually develops over an extended period and whose cause may not be entirely clear.

Examples: cancer, alcoholism, mental illness, tooth decay, ulcers, and lead poisoning.

Question 19

Pathogen

Answer 19

Infectious agent capable of causing disease

Question 20

Prevention, primary

Give examples

Answer 20

Prevention of an agent from causing disease or injury in humans.

Examples: intervention, regulation of exposure to environmental hazards, action to promote health and prevent disease, immunization, adequate supply of water, basic sanitation, prevention education, food and nutrition, and maternal and child care

Question 21

Prevention, secondary

Answer 21

Early detection and treatment.

Surveillance, screening, monitoring the environment, measures to protect the public, treatment of public water supplies, fluoridation for dental control.

Question 22

Prevention, tertiary

Answer 22

Amelioration of a disease to reduce disability or dependents resulting from it.

Conventional medical treatment, restoration of health and well-being, voluntary action by the individual

Question 23

Primary health Care

Answer 23

application of the principles of health education, nutrition, immunization, water and sanitation, maternal and child Care and family planning, control of endemic diseases, treatment of common diseases, and provision of essential drugs

Question 24

Sanitation

Answer 24

Effective use of measures that maintain healthy environmental conditions. Included are safeguarding food and water, proper sewage disposal, and control of disease-carrying insects and animals

Question 25

Sanitize

Answer 25

Reduce microorganism level to an acceptable level, usually by application of heat or chemicals

Question 26

Sterilization

Answer 26

Process of killing all microorganisms, including spores

Question 27

Susceptible

Answer 27

Not possessing resistance against a particular pathogen to prevent contracting infection if exposed to the agent

Question 28

Teratogen

Answer 28

Agent that acts during pregnancy to produce a physical or functional defect in the baby

For example, methylmercury and thalidomide

Question 29

TLV, threshold limit value

Answer 29

Average 8-hour occupational exposure limit. This means that the actual exposure level May sometimes be higher, sometimes lower, but the average must not exceed the TLV. CALCULATED TO BE SAFE EXPOSURES FOR A WORKING LIFETIME

Question 30

Toxicity, acute condition

Answer 30

Adverse effects occurring shortly after the administration of a single or multiple dose of a substance

Include viruses, colds, flu, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, accidental injuries, diseases of the skin. A condition that has lasted less than 3 months and has involved either a physician’s visit or restricted activity

Question 31

Toxicity, chronic condition

Answer 31

Injury persists because it is irreversible or progressive or because the rate of injury is greater than the rate of repair during a prolonged period.

Include heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, ulcers, bronchitis, and emphysema. Any condition lasting 3 months or more or one of certain conditions classified as chronic regardless of their time of onset

Question 32

Toxin

Answer 32

Poisonous substance of animal or plant origin

Question 33

YPLL

Answer 33

Years of potential life lost, measure of premature mortality from all causes over the span of life. Based on age specific death rates.