Chapter 15: Disease and Epidemiology

Question 1

Epidemiology

Answer 1

Concerns the geographical distribution and timing of infectious disease occurrences and how they are transmitted and maintained in nature, with the goal of recognizing and controlling outbreaks.

Question 2

Etiology

Answer 2

The study of the causes of disease.

Question 3

Morbidity

Answer 3

The state of being diseased.

Question 4

Morbidity Rate

Answer 4

Can be expressed as the number of diseased individuals out of a standard number of individuals in the population, such as 100,000, or as a percent of the population.

Question 5

Prevalence

Answer 5

The number, or proportion, of individuals with a particular illness in a given population at a point in time.

Question 6

Incidence

Answer 6

The number or proportion of new cases in a period of time.

Question 7

Mortality

Answer 7

Death.

Question 8

Mortality Rate

Answer 8

Can be expressed as the percentage of the population that has died from a disease or as the number of deaths per 100,000 persons (or other suitable standard number).

Question 9

Sporadic Diseases

Answer 9

Diseases that are seen only occasionally, and usually without geographic concentration.

Question 10

Endemic Diseases

Answer 10

Diseases that are constantly present (often at a low level) in a population within a particular geographic region.

Question 11

Epidemic Diseases

Answer 11

Diseases for which a larger than expected number of cases occurs in a short time within a geographic region.

Question 12

Pandemic Disease

Answer 12

An epidemic that occurs on a worldwide scale.

Question 13

Etiologic Agent/Causative Agent

Answer 13

The cause of the disease.

Question 14

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Answer 14

Charged with protecting the public from disease and injury.

Question 15

National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS)

Answer 15

Monitors diseases considered to be of public health importance on a national scale.

Question 16

Notifiable Diseases/Reportable Diseases

Answer 16

Diseases considered to be of public health importance on a national scale.; must be reported to the CDC.

Question 17

Reservoirs

Answer 17

Places where pathogens normally reside.

Question 18

Carrier

Answer 18

An individual capable of transmitting a pathogen without displaying symptoms is referred to as a carrier.

Question 19

Passive Carrier

Answer 19

Contaminated with the pathogen and can mechanically transmit it to another host; however, a passive carrier is not infected.

Question 20

Active Carrier

Answer 20

An infected individual who can transmit the disease to others; they may or may not exhibit signs or symptoms of infection.

Question 21

Incubation Period

Answer 21

Before they show signs and symptoms.

Question 22

Period of Convalescence

Answer 22

After symptoms have subsided.

Question 23

Asymptomatic Carriers

Answer 23

Active carriers who do not present signs or symptoms of disease despite infection.

Question 24

Definitive Host

Answer 24

The parasite’s preferred host.

Question 25

Contact Transmission

Answer 25

Includes direct or indirect contact.

Question 26

Person-to-Person Transmission

Answer 26

A form of direct contact transmission; the agent is transmitted by physical contact between two individuals through actions such as touching, kissing, sexual intercourse, or droplet sprays.

Question 27

Vertical Direct Contact Transmission

Answer 27

Occurs when pathogens are transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

Question 28

Horizontal Direct Contact Transmission

Answer 28

Contact between mucous membranes is required for entry of the pathogen into the new host, although skin-to-skin contact can lead to mucous membrane contact of the new host subsequently touches a mucous membrane.

Question 29

Droplet Transmission

Answer 29

Refers to droplet transmission of a pathogen to a new host over distances of one meter or less.

Question 30

Airborne Transmission

Answer 30

Transmission over distances greater than one meter.

Question 31

Indirect Contact Transmission

Answer 31

Involves inanimate objects called fomites that become contaminated by pathogens from an infected individual or reservoir.

Question 32

Vehicle Transmission

Answer 32

Refers to the transmission of pathogens through vehicles such as water, food, and air.

Question 33

Waterborne Transmission

Answer 33

Water contamination through poor sanitation methods.

Question 34

Foodborne Transmission

Answer 34

Food contaminated through poor handling or storage.

Question 34

Foodborne Transmission

Answer 34

Food contaminated through poor handling or storage.

Question 35

Aerosols

Answer 35

Dust and fine particles, which can float in the air, can carry pathogens and facilitate the airborne transmission of disease.

Question 36

Vector

Answer 36

An animal (typically an arthropod) that carriers the disease from one host to another.

Question 37

Mechanical Vector

Answer 37

An animal that carries a pathogen from one host to another without being infected itself.

Question 38

Mechanical Transmission

Answer 38

Facilitated by a mechanical vector.

Question 39

Nosocomial Infections/Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)

Answer 39

Infections acquired in healthcare facilities, including hospitals.

Question 40

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Answer 40

Either new to the human population or has shown an increases in prevalence in the previous 20 years.

Question 41

Reemerging Infectious Disease

Answer 41

A disease that is increasing in frequency after a previous period of decline.