Unit 2: Communicable Disease

Question 1

An acute, febrile respiratory infection that may exhibit systemic manifestations

Answer 1

influenza

Question 2

The influenza virus has which two identifying surface antigens (protein substances on the virus)

Answer 2

Hemagglutinins (H)
Neuraminidase (N)

Question 3

What are minor changes to an influenza virus commonly called?

Answer 3

Antigenic DRIFT

Question 4

What are major changes to an influenza virus commonly called?

Answer 4

Antigenic SHIFT

Question 5

Which of the two changes to influenza often results in
epidemics?

Answer 5

Antigenic SHIFT

Question 6

What is the average influenza incubation period?

Answer 6

1-3 days

Question 7

Which project did the Air Force institute in response to influenza?

Answer 7

Project Gargle

Question 8

What is the purpose of the Influenza Surveillance Program?

Answer 8

Identify new strains of influenza virus

Question 9

A communicable disease affecting the lungs and in some cases, other parts of the body

Answer 9

tuberculosis

Question 10

What is the causative pulmonary tuberculosis organism?

Answer 10

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. TB)

Question 11

How is tuberculosis spread or transmitted?

Answer 11

inhalation of droplet nuclei containing live M. TB

Question 12

The probability that TB will be transmitted depends on what three
factors?

Answer 12

1. The infectiousness of the person with TB.
2. The environment in which exposure occurred.
3. The duration of exposure.

Question 13

What is the incubation period for TB?

Answer 13

About 4-12 weeks

Question 14

Name the three stages of tuberculosis.

Answer 14

Infection
Dormant
Active

Question 15

What occurs during the dormant phase of tuberculosis?

Answer 15

bacilli encapsulate and remain in the alveoli of the lung until conditions favor further growth and progression to the active stage

Question 16

What conditions favor further growth during the dormant stage?

Answer 16

Diabetes
Alcoholism
Silicosis
Immunosuppression due to cancer therapy
AIDS

Question 17

What are the symptoms of active tuberculosis?

Answer 17

Fatigue
Weight loss
Fever, chills, night sweats
Loss of appetite
Persistent cough

Question 18

What test is used to screen Air Force personnel for tuberculosis?

Answer 18

tuberculin skin test (TST)

Question 19

Which test is used
(1) to identify infected persons at high risk of developing TB disease who would benefit from preventive therapy
(2) to identify persons with TB disease who need treatment

Answer 19

TSTs

Question 20

The Air Force uses which test test to confirm tuberculosis infection. It is the most effective and accurate test procedure available, and it is the standard.

Answer 20

Mantoux test

Question 21

When do positive reactions to the Mantoux test occur?

Answer 21

within 48 to 72 hours after injection

Question 22

What does the acronym BCG stand for and what is it?

Answer 22

Bacille Calmette-Guerin
The first live vaccine against tuberculosis

Question 23

What is the purpose of a BCG vaccination?

Answer 23

Prevent the recipient from experiencing a natural, primary
infection by artificially inducing a harmless primary infection

Question 24

What is the effect of a BCG vaccination on TSTs?

Answer 24

Positive TST after the vaccination

Question 25

What medication is used to prevent active tuberculosis?

Answer 25

isoniazid (INH)

Question 26

What is the most serious side effect of INH?

Answer 26

drug-induced hepatitis

Question 27

What are two of Public Health’s primary responsibilities for managing the Tuberculosis Detection and Control Program?

Answer 27

(1) monitor the administration of the program (2) educate personnel about the disease

Question 28

What are the three different stages of syphilis?

Answer 28

Primary Secondary Late

Question 29

Which stage of syphilis is characterized by lesions, known as chancres, which also characterizes the acute form?

Answer 29

Primary stage

Question 30

Which stage of syphilis has characteristic skin rashes and mucous membrane eruptions, as well as long periods of latency, without symptoms?

Answer 30

Secondary stage

Question 31

Which stage of syphilis may be present as a chronic disease involving the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system?

Answer 31

Late stage

Question 32

Is it possible for a woman to pass syphilis to her unborn baby?

Answer 32

Yes

Question 33

What is the causative agent for syphilis?

Answer 33

Spirochete, Treponema pallidum

Question 34

How is syphilis transmitted?

Answer 34

Close sexual contact with a person who has an infectious lesion or chancre

Question 35

What is the average incubation time for syphilis?

Answer 35

10 to 90 days, with an average of 21 days

Question 36

Syphilis is not detectable by laboratory testing until what stage?

Answer 36

Primary stage

Question 37

What are the three methods of identifying syphilis?

Answer 37

dark field microscopy serological testing cerebrospinal fluid examination

Question 38

What is the most effective method used to identify syphilis in the primary stage?

Answer 38

Dark field microscopy

Question 39

Which antibody results from the interaction of the organism with the body tissue?

Answer 39

Reagin

Question 40

Which antibody does nontreponemal test measure?

Answer 40

Reagin

Question 41

Which antibody does treponemal tests measure?

Answer 41

Antibodies to the organism itself

Question 42

What is one of the most effective nontreponemal serological tests?

Answer 42

Venereal Disease Research Laboratories (VDRL)

Question 43

Which serological tests is more specific, more useful in confirming a diagnosis of syphilis, and in identifying individuals with false positive nontreponemal tests?

Answer 43

Treponemal tests

Question 44

What does FTA-ABS stand for and how is it used?

Answer 44

fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption used to confirm infection with T. palladium

Question 45

If syphilis is suspected of attacking the central nervous system (CNS), a cerebrospinal fluid examination includes what three parts?

Answer 45

a VDRL a cell count a totalprotein

Question 46

What are PH responbilities when it comes to syphilis?

Answer 46

conduct patient and contact interviews conduct follow up educate patients and contacts

Question 47

A lesion that forms at the site where the spirochete entered the body

Answer 47

First clinical sign of syphilis

Question 48

What occurs during the early latent stage of syphilis?