Unit4 Terminology - Virology Flashcards
pathology
scientific study of disease
pathogen
disease-causing microbe
pathogenesis
the manner in which a disease develops
opportunistic pathogen
a microorganism that does not ordinarily cause disease but can be pathogenic under certain circumstances
etiology
the study of the cause of disease
infection
the invasion and growth of pathogens in the body
disease
abnormal state in which part,or all, of the body is not properly adjusted or is incapable of performing normal function
symptoms
subjective changes in body functions that are felt by the patient
signs
measurable changes in which a physician can make a diagnosis
diagnosis
identification of the disease
syndrome
specific group of symptoms or signs that always accompanies a specific disease
communicable disease
transmitted directly or indirectly from one host to another
contagious disease
one that is easily spread from one person to another
noncommunicable disease
disease that are caused by microorganisms that normally grow outside of the human body and are not transmitted from one host to another
virulence
the degree to which a pathogen can cause disease
virulence factor
characteristic and ability of a pathogen that enables it to cause disease
microbial antagonism
a process by which pathogenic microorganisms are inhibited by the normal flora from colonizing healthy organisms
symbiosis
two organisms living together
commensalism
one organism benefits, the other in unaffected
mutualism
both organisms benefit
parasitism
one organism benefits, the other is harmed
incidence
of people contracting the disease
prevalence
of cases at one particular time
sporadic
occurs occasionally in a population
endemic
continually in a population or a geographic location
pandemic
acquired by many hosts worldwide over a short period of time
acute
disease that develops rapidly but results in full recovery in a short amount of time
chronic
disease that continues or recurs over a long period of time
subacute
an abnormal condition is a person who seems clinically well
latent
disease in which the causative agent is continually present and may cause symptoms after a long period of inactivity
systemic infection
spread throughout the body via the circulatory system
focal infection
starts as a local infection and spreads to other parts of the body (becomes systemic)
primary infection
is an acute infection that causes the initial illness
secondary infection
can occur after the host is weakened from a primary infection
subclinical infection
infection that does not cause any sign of disease in the host
bacteremia
presence of bacteria in the blood
toxemia
blood poisoning by toxins from a local bacteria infection
viremia
presence of virus in the blood
septicemia
blood poisoning, esp that are caused by bacteria and their toxins
nosocomial infection
healthcare acquired infection
zoonoses
diseases that can affect wild/domestic animals and can be transmitted to humans
toxins
poisonous substances produced within cells of organisms
toxoid
an inactivated toxin
antitoxin
specific antibody produced by the body in response to a bacterial exotoxin or its toxoid
toxigenicity
ability to produce toxins
exotoxin
produced by bacteria and released into surrounding medium (produce disease symptoms - mostly G+ bacteria
endotoxin
(Lipid A) found in call wall of G- bacteria and released upon destruction
incubation period
the interval between the initial infection and the first appearance of symptoms
prodromal period
characterized by the appearance of the first mild symptom or sign
period of illness
the disease at its height; all signs and symptoms are apparent
period of decline
signs and symptoms subside
period of convalescence
body returns to predisposed state; health is restored
reservoir
a continual source of infection
carrier
person who has disease but is asymptomatic
direct contact
involves close, physical contact between the source of disease and susceptible host (ex. sex, handshakes)
indirect contact
transmission by fomites (inanimate objects); ex. toilet seats, doorknobs
droplet transmission
transmission via saliva or mucous in coughing or sneezing
vehicle transmission
transmission by a medium such as food, water, air, blood
vector transmission
involves anthropods (mechanical=legs, body parts; biological=insect bites)
epidemiology
study of transmission, incidence and frequency of disease
descriptive epidemiology
collection and analysis of data (John Snow)
analytical epidemiology
comparison of a diseased group and a healthy group (Nightingale)
experimental epidemiology
controlled experiments to test hypotheses (Semmelweis)
NIDS - notifiable infectious disease
diseases in which healthcare workers are required by law to report
morbidity
rate is # of cases divided by the population at risk
incidence
rate reflects population that dies from the disease
prevalence
reflects total number of existing cases
endemic
diseases that are constantly present
epidemic
unusually large # of cases in a population
pandemic
worldwide epidemic
outbreak
refers to a cluster of cases in a brief time affecting a specific population
