Epidemiology

Question 1

Epidemiology

Answer 1

the study of the spread, occurrence and control of diseases in the population

Question 2

Communicable disease

Answer 2

a disease that can be transmitted from person-to-person.

Question 3

Contagious disease

Answer 3

A disease that is easily transmitted from person-to-person.

Question 4

Zoonotic disease

Answer 4

an infectious disease that humans can catch from animals

Question 5

Give examples of some zoonotic diseases

Answer 5

Bird flu, plague, rabies, anthrax, dengue fever, malaria

Question 6

Incidence

Answer 6

The number of new cases of a particular disease within a certain population (e.g. suburb, town, country etc) during a specific period of time.

Question 7

Morbidity rate

Answer 7

number of new cases of a disease over a defined period of time in a specifically defined number of individuals

Question 8

mortality rate

Answer 8

The ratio of the number of people who died of a particular disease over a specified time period in a specified region.

Question 9

Sporadic disease

Answer 9

a disease that occurs only occasionally within a population of a specific
geographical area.

Question 10

Endemic

Answer 10

always present at some level in population of a specific geographical area e.g. the flu

Question 11

Epidemic

Answer 11

greater than usual numbers within a specific geographical region but only lasts a short period of time. e.g measles

Question 12

Pandemic

Answer 12

occurring in epidemic proportions in many countries at the same time – usually worldwide. e.g. covid-19

Question 13

List components of the chain of infection

Answer 13

Infectious agent (germs), reservoir (where germs live), portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

Question 14

Carrier

Answer 14

A person infected with pathogen, but it is currently not causing disease. They however can transmit it.

Question 15

Passive carrier

Answer 15

has the pathogen, but never had the disease.

Question 16

Convalescent carrier

Answer 16

Can still transmit pathogen while recovering

Question 17

Active carrier

Answer 17

completely recovered but still carry pathogen (e.g herpes)

Question 18

List 5 modes of transmission of infectious diseases

Answer 18

Contact, droplets, airborne, vehicular, vector

Question 19

Healthcare associated-infections (HAIs)

Answer 19

infections acquired within hospitals or other healthcare facilities

Question 20

Community-acquired infections

Answer 20

infections acquired outside a healthcare facility