vocab

Question 1

Cluster

Answer 1

An aggregation of cases over a particular period closely grouped in time and space, regardless of whether the number is more than the expected number

Question 2

Elimination

Answer 2

Reduction to zero of a disease in a defined geographical area due to deliberate efforts. This requires continued intervention measures.

Question 3

Endemic Disease

Answer 3

Present at a continuous level throughout a population/geographic area; constant presence of an agent/health condition within a given geographic area/population; refers to the usual prevalence of an agent/condition.

Question 4

Epidemic

Answer 4

Large numbers of people over a wide geographical area are affected.

Question 5

Etiology

Answer 5

Study of the cause of a disease.

Question 6

Fomite

Answer 6

A physical object that serves to transmit an infectious agent from person to person. An example of this is lice on a comb. The comb is the fomite and the lice are the agent that can make your hair itch.

Question 7

Iatrogenic

Answer 7

An illness that is caused by medication or a physician. Ex. healthcare provider didn’t wash his or her hands after touching a previous patient

Question 8

Incubation Period

Answer 8

Time in between when a person comes into contact with a pathogen and when they first show symptoms or signs of disease.

Question 9

Index Case

Answer 9

First patient in an epidemiological study (also known as patient zero or primary case).

Question 10

Morbidity

Answer 10

Rate of disease in a population.

Question 11

Mortality

Answer 11

Rate of death in a population.

Question 12

Outbreak

Answer 12

More cases of a particular disease than expected in a given area or among a specialized group of people over a particular period of time.

Question 13

Pandemic

Answer 13

An epidemic occurring over several countries or continents and affecting a large proportion of the population.

Question 14

Plague

Answer 14

A serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease that is usually transmitted to humans by the bites of rodent fleas. It was one of the scourges of our early history. There are three major forms of the disease: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.

Question 15

Nosocomial Disease

Answer 15

An infection that is acquired in a hospital.

Question 16

Risk

Answer 16

The probability that an individual will be affected by, or die from, an illness or injury within a stated time or age span. Risk of illness is generally considered to be the same as the Incidence (see below) and the terms are used interchangeably. Age-span is not usually a consideration in this usage. Risk of death from a particular illness is expressed as the Case Fatality Rate (Number deaths due to a disease/Number with the disease) or the Cause-specific Mortality Rate (Number deaths due to a disease/Number in population). Age span is a more common consideration in this last usage.

Question 17

Surveillance

Answer 17

The systematic and ongoing collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data. The purpose of public health surveillance is to gain knowledge of the patterns of disease, injury, and other health problems in a community so that we can work towards their prevention and control.

Question 18

Vector

Answer 18

An animal that transmits disease but is not the cause of the disease itself. For example, a mosquito is a vector for malaria.

Question 19

Zoonosis

Answer 19

An infectious disease that is transmissible from animals to humans.

Question 20

Symptomatic

Answer 20

Showing symptoms or signs of injury.

Question 21

Asymptomatic

Answer 21

Showing no signs or symptoms, although can be carrier of disease.