disease
any condition that prevents the body from functioning normally
infectious
caused by invading pathogens (bacteria, virus, fungi, etc)
noninfectious
cause by factors others than pathogens (aging, genetics, malnutrition, etc)
acute
severe but it lasts for a short time
chronic
lasts for a long time or comes back regularly
communicable
can easily spread from person to person
noncommunicable
cannot be spread from person to person
bacteria
microscopic organisms that can cause many illnesses in the body; some can survive without oxygen (anaerobic)
virus
capsule of genetic information that can reprogram a cell to produce new viral cells
protozoa
microscopic creatures that resemble animals; more rare, but more severe diseases
fungi
yeast, mold, mushrooms, etc; more are poisonous than infections
parasitic worms
worm-like disease causing creatures
airborne
talking, singing, coughing, etc. spreads millions of germs into the air
surfaces
touching a surface that has the pathogen on it
direct contact
physical contact with an individual who has the pathogen
vectors
animals that carry a dangerous pathogen or illness
memory cells
after you’ve become infected, your leukocytes will “remember” how to fight off a pathogen; resistance to disease is called immunity
immunity
resistance to disease
acquired
gained from memory cells and a previous encounter with a pathogen
inborn
temporary immunity in infants
species
certain pathogens cannot affect certain species
vaccination
introducing weak or dead pathogens into the body (vaccine) to allow an acquired immunity to occur
antibiotic
substances made from organisms that can stop the spread of pathogens, bacteria, etc