Lecture 2: Intro to infectious vs chronic disease

Question 1

Define disease

Answer 1

Abnormal, medically defined changes in the structure or functioning of the human body. Each individual case or condition varies on whether or not it is considered a disease

Question 2

Define illness (or sickness)

Answer 2

An individual’s experience or perception of lack of physical or mental well-being and consequent inability to function normally in social roles.

Question 3

What is the main difference between disease and illness

Answer 3

disease is very objective while illness is subjective

Question 4

What are the two types of disease

Answer 4

infectious and chronic

Question 5

What is another name for an infectious disease

Answer 5

communicable disease

Question 6

What is another name for a chronic disease

Answer 6

non-infectious or non-communicable disease

Question 7

Define infectious disease

Answer 7

Due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arise through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal, or reservoir to a susceptible host

Question 8

What are the three types of infectious diseases

Answer 8

outbreak
epidemic
pandemic

Question 9

Define outbreak

Answer 9

An occurrence of new cases in excess of baseline (spike in numbers) in a localized area. ex. a city or school

Question 10

Define epidemic

Answer 10

Occurrence of new cases in excess of baseline (spike in numbers) across a country or number of surrounding countries

Question 11

Define Pandemic

Answer 11

Occurrence of new cases in excess of baseline (spike in numbers) crossing many international boundaries and affects large numbers of people (widespread)

Question 12

Infectious diseases are a major cause of mortality in what populations

Answer 12

Very young, elderly, and infirm (already ill) individuals

Not a major cause of mortality in developed countries

Question 13

Define chronic disease

Answer 13

Are not passes from person to person. They are long duration (min. 3 months) and generally slow progression

Question 14

What are the 4 behavioural risk factors contributing to chronic disease

Answer 14

Tobacco consumption
Unhealthy diet
Inactivity
Abuse of alcohol

Question 15

What is the life-course approach to chronic disease

Answer 15

There is an accumulation of modifiable (behavioural) risks for chronic disease as people age. Interventions in early life have the potential to reduce chronic disease in a population.

Question 16

What is the leading cause of death globally

Answer 16

chronic disease

Question 17

When looking at income, what countries have the largest percentage of deaths due to chronic disease

Answer 17

low income and lower middle income countries

Question 18

Why might low income countries have a higher percentage of deaths due to chronic disease

Answer 18

These countries have a much larger population and very poor health care

Question 19

What is risk transition

Answer 19

As a country develops, the types of diseases that affect a population shift from primarily infectious to primarily chronic

Question 20

What causes risk transition

Answer 20

1. Improvements in medical care
2. The population has a longer life expectancy
3. Public health interventions (sanitation, clean water)

Question 21

What are the 4 periods of risk transition

Answer 21

1. Age od deadly disease and famine
2. Age of receding epidemics
3. Age of degeneration and human-caused diseases
4. Age of delayed degenerative diseases