Chapter 13 Infectious Diseases Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the tiniest living organisms on earth that eat, reproduce, and die?
micro-organisms
What is an infectious agent capable of causing disease?
Pathogen
the chain of __________
infection
What is the speed or intensity of the pathogen?
virulence
What is the body’s first line of defense?
skin
What is one controllable risk factor for infection?
eating a balanced diet
What is one uncontrollable risk factor for infection?
undergoing required surgical procedures
What is a complex set of cells, chemicals and processes that protects the body?
immune system
Once a person has had an infection he or she often acquires _____
immunity
what is a preparation of weakened or killed micro-organisms administered to give immunity to diseases?
vaccine
recent fears about vaccinations were a problem because a bad study said vaccinations cause ____
autism
What is it called when a body identifies a harmless foreign substance as an antigen and creates an immune response?
Allergies
widespread distribution of food can increase the ____ that contaminated food will cause infectious disease.
risk
