Pearson chapter 28 Flashcards
carrier
an asymptomatic individual who is infected with and can transmit a communicable disease.
communicable disease
infectious disease that can be spread from person to person through direct or indirect contact. Also called contagious disease
disease period
the phase of an infection in which the individual has signs and symptoms.
exudate
material that has seeped out of injured or inflamed tissues or blood vessels.
fomite
an inanimate object that can transfer infectious material, resulting in disease.
fulminant
severe, with a rapid onset.
immunocompromise
the suppression of immune system function, resulting in increased susceptibility to infection and cancers.
incubation period
the time from exposure to an infectious disease to the onset of signs and symptoms.
latent
inactive or dormant
normal flora
micro-organisms that normally inhabit the body without producing disease.
nosocomial infection
an infection acquired in a health care setting.
opportunistic infections
diseases that occur from pathogens that are normally destroyed by the immune system or kept in check by normal flora
vector
an animal or insect that can spread diseases from one organism to another.
virulent
strong, able to overcome body defenses.
window phase
the period of time between infectious disease exposure and development of detectable amounts of antibody; the disease may be transmissible during this time.
Direct transmission
Infected person in contact with, or close proximity to,
another person
Indirect transmission
Infected person contaminates fomite that another
person comes in contact
Hepatitis A & E
pread through fecal–oral route,
including contaminated food
Hepatitis B, C, D & G
spread through blood; body fluids;
and shared drug, acupuncture, and tattoo needles
Tuberculosis (TB)
Spread through respiratory droplets. Manifests as respiratory disease. Can affect many different parts of body
Pneumonia
Viruses, fungi, strains of bacteria infection. Often localized to one lobe of lung.
SARS
Coronavirus infection that causes acute pneumonia-
like illness
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Serious, sometimes fatal disease that causes
coughing fits and characteristic “whooping” sound
Bubonic plague and hantavirus
Carried by rodents, occasionally occur in U.S. Southwest
Domestic arboviruses
transmitted to humans by insects cause of infectious encephalitis
Croup
viral illness causes inflammation of airways laryngotracheobronchitis. “seal bark”
Epiglottitis
Rare bacterial infection causes swelling of epiglottis
– Vaccine available
Mumps
Viral infection that affects glandular tissue
Measles and rubella
Viral illnesses that cause fever and rash
Chickenpox (varicella)
Viral disease in herpes family; general malaise and
itchy, fluid-filled blisters on skin that later crust and
scab
Meningitis
Inflammation and swelling of meninges that surround
the central nervous system
Encephalitis
inflammation of brain tissue.
West Nile virus
▪St. Louis encephalitis
▪Eastern equine encephalitis
▪Herpesvirus
▪Toxoplasmosis
Tularemia
identified as a potential weapon of
bioterrorism—highly infectious and significant morbidity.
Botulism
Paralysis by blocking release of acetylcholine
in motor neurons. Caused by low-acidity canned foods that are improperly processed
Mononucleosis
Viral infection causes fever and fatigue
– Affects upper respiratory system
Scabies
caused by mite that burrows under skin and lays eggs
– Causes rash with intense itching
– Transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with
infected person
Lice
tiny insects that infest body, using hair shafts to
deposit eggs (nits)
– Infestation with lice: pediculosis
– Head, pubic, body lice
– Spread by close contact with infected persons
Ringworm (tinea corporis)
not worm at all but fungus that
results in itching, circular lesions on skin
– Spread through direct contact with infected person,
contaminated soil, infected pet
Impetigo
caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal bacteria
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Resistant to antibiotics used to treat staphylococcal
infections
– Affects skin
Gonorrhea
Bacterial infection that causes painful urination and
purulent urethral discharge in men; asymptomatic in
women
Syphilis
acterial infection transmitted sexually; can be
transmitted through contact with lesions
– Untreated infected women can pass infection to fetus:
congenital syphilis
Chlamydia
Caused by organism that has characteristics of bacteria but lives within cells
– Can affect eyes and respiratory system
– Spread through secretions and sexual contact
