Micro Ch 14, Disease and Epidemiology part 2

Koch's Postulates

A set of four criteria established to determine the causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

Symptom

A subjective indication of disease or change in condition described by the patient.

Sign

An objective, measurable indication of disease or change in condition.

Syndrome

A collection of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular disease or condition.

Non-communicable Disease

A disease that is not transmissible from one person to another.

Contagious Disease

A communicable disease that can be spread from one person to another through direct contact.

Epidemic

A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across multiple countries or continents, affecting a large number of people.

Acute Infection

An infection that develops quickly and lasts for a short period of time.

Chronic Infection

An infection that develops slowly and is long-lasting.

Pathogenicity

The ability of a pathogen to cause disease.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity or the severity of the disease caused by a pathogen.

Erythema

Redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow to the area.

Leukocytosis

An increase in the number of white blood cells, often indicating an infection.

Pyrexia

An elevated body temperature; fever.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.

Epidemiology

The study of how diseases are distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine this distribution.

Outbreak

A sudden, rapid rise in the number of cases of a disease in a specific geographical area.

Endemic Disease

A disease or condition regularly found and consistently present in a particular geographic area.

Sporadic Disease

Diseases that occur infrequently and irregularly in a population.

Focal Infection

An infection localized to a particular area but which may have systemic effects.