Lecture 35: Cellular basis for the spread of infectious diseases Flashcards
What are the five stages of infectious disease?
- Incubation
- Prodromal
- Illness
- Decline
- Convalescence
What are the features of the incubation period?
- no visible signs/symptoms
- microbe first invades body
What are the features of the Prodromal period?
- vague symptoms
- threshold for microbe numbers is met
What are the features of the Illness period?
- most severe symptoms
- most likely to transmit disease
What are the features of the Decline period?
- declining symptoms
- immune system is working
What are the features of the Convalescence period?
- start to get better
What is epidemiology?
The study of disease transmission
6 factors in the chain of infection?
- Causative agent
- Source
- Mean of exit
- Mode of transmission
- Portal of entry
- people at risk
How do you stop Causative agents?
Rapid detection and treatment
How do you stop an infection source?
Good hygiene/sterilisation
How do you prevent mean of exit?
Waste removal/disinfection
How do you stop modes of transmission?
Air control/bed spacing
How do you prevent portals of entry?
Aseptic techniques/wound care
How do you help people at risk of infection?
Identify demographic then target them for special care
What is the definition of mortality?
The incidence of death in a population
What is the definition of morbidity?
refers to the incidence of disease including fatal and non fatal diseases
What is the definition of incidence?
the number of new cases in a given time period
What is the definition of prevalence?
total number of new and existing cases, in a population in a given time
What is the definition of endemic?
the amount of a particular disease that is usually present in a community
What is the definition of sporadic?
a disease that occurs infrequently/irregularly
What is the definition of epidemic?
a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease, in an area
What is the definition of pandemic?
an epidemic that has spread over several continents/countries
