Week 1 : Introduction to Acute and Chronic Infectious Diseases

Question 1

List the features of an ‘acute’ infection.

Answer 1

• Rapid onset of symptoms/disease
• Brief period (hours/days) display of symptoms
• Disease resolution in the healthy (weeks)
• Self-limiting (pathogen cleared or death of the host)

Question 2

List the 3 main routes of transmission with Respiratory Tract Infections.

Answer 2

• Airborne
• Droplets
• Contact

Question 3

Define an acute infection.

Answer 3

Localised or systemic condition resulting from an adverse reaction to an infectious ‘agent’ or its ‘toxins’ with there being no evidence that the infection was present at the time of admission.

Question 4

Give an example of an acute bacteria infection.

Answer 4

Stomach infections e.g. food poisoning

Question 5

Give an example of a viral acute infection.

Answer 5

Norovirus infection

Question 6

What does SARS stand for?

Answer 6

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Question 7

Give an example of an acute infection leading to long term (chronic) side effects.

Answer 7

• IBS can occur 2-3 weeks after food poisoning
• Chronic fatigue often follows after viral infections

Question 8

List the features of a chronic infection.

Answer 8

• Infection occurs but the infectious agent then never leaves
• Continuous symptoms
• Persistent

Question 9

Define chronic infection.

Answer 9

Life-long, continuous presence of infectious agent, following a primary (acute) infection and may include chronic or relapsing infection

Question 10

Give an example of a viral chronic infection.

Answer 10

Chicken pox & HIV

Question 11

Give an example of a bacterial chronic infection.

Answer 11

Tuberculosis