Definitions Flashcards
Define epidemic
An outbreak that occurs over a larger area.
Define endemic
Refers to the expected level of a disease or health condition in a given population.
Define pandemic
This is an epidemic occuring worldwide or over a wide area crossing international boundaries.
Define cohorts
These are individuals sharing characteristics e.g (sex,age, occupation, lifestyle)
Define Disease
An interruption or disorder of body function,systems or organs.
Define invasiveness
Ability of a pathogen to get into a host.
Define incubation period
Time between exposure and clinical disease.
Define Infectivity
Ability to multiply once in the host.
Define pathogenicity
Ability to cause disease
Define virulence
Ability to cause death or serious disease
Define prepatent disease
This is the time from exposure to when you can see the eggs and larvae of a parasite.
Define natural history of a disease
Events or progression of a disease from exposure to resolution in the absence of medical intervention/treatment.
Define cold chain
A phenomenon where vaccines should be kept at a specific temperature.
Define case definition
Refers to a set of criteria used in making a decision as to whether an individual has a disease or health event of interest and can be either confirmed,possible or probable.
Define ecological fallacy
Errors result if investigators assume that because the majority of a group has a characteristic is definitely associated with those experiencing a health related state or event in the group.
