Communicable Disease Definitions Flashcards
Antigen
Foreign substance inducing formation of antibodies
Body burden
Total effect on body from exposure to chemical.
Contact
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
Contamination
Presence of an infectious agent on a body surface or on another surface including inanimate articles.
Pollution
Presence of offencive but not necessarily infectious matter in the environment.
Disinfection
Application of chemicals to materials for the purpose of killing pathogenic organisms. May not be totally effective.
Disinfestation
Process serving to destroy animal forums especially anthropoids are rodents. Includes delousing.
Endemic
Constant presence of a disease within a given geographic area.
Hyperendemic
Expresses a persistent intense transmission
Holoendemic
High level of infection beginning early in the life and affecting most of the population. For example of malaria.
Endotoxin
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.
Enterotoxin
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
Epidemic
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.
Exotoxin
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.
Lc50
median lethal concentration of a substance in the air causing death in 50% of the animals exposed by inhalation. Measure of acute toxicity.
Ld-50
Lethal dose, causing death in 50% of animals exposed by swallowing a substance. Measure of acute toxicity
Neurotoxin
A toxin that attacks nerve cells. For example botulism.
Non infectious or non-communicable disease
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.
Pathogen
Infectious agent capable of causing disease
Prevention, primary
Give examples
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
Prevention, secondary
Early detection and treatment.
Surveillance, screening, monitoring the environment, measures to protect the public, treatment of public water supplies, fluoridation for dental control.
Prevention, tertiary
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
Primary health Care
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
Sanitation
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
Sanitize
Reduce microorganism level to an acceptable level, usually by application of heat or chemicals
Sterilization
Process of killing all microorganisms, including spores
Susceptible
Not possessing resistance against a particular pathogen to prevent contracting infection if exposed to the agent
Teratogen
Agent that acts during pregnancy to produce a physical or functional defect in the baby
For example, methylmercury and thalidomide
TLV, threshold limit value
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
Toxicity, acute condition
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
Toxicity, chronic condition
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
Toxin
Poisonous substance of animal or plant origin
YPLL
Years of potential life lost, measure of premature mortality from all causes over the span of life. Based on age specific death rates.
