Human Diseases midterm

Homeostasis

The constant and steady maintenance of internal conditions.

Disease

A state of functional disequilibrium. A change in function or structure that is considered to be abnormal.

Pathology

The study of disease.

Pathophysiology

The study of the physiological processes leading up to disease.

Signs

Objective evidence of disease observed on physical examinations. (Things that can be observed by someone else.)

Examples of Signs

Abnormal pulse, respiratory rate, fever, sweating, etc seen by medical professional

Symptoms

Subjective indications of disease reported by the patient. (Things that someone else cannot observe, but the patient can feel.)

Examples of Symptoms

Pain, dizziness, itching, etc.

Syndrome

Certain sets of signs and symptoms occur in some diseases. (combo of signs and symptoms)

Examples of Syndromes

Down's Syndrome, malabsorption syndrome, etc.

Diagnosis

The use of scientific or clinical methods to determine the nature of a disease.

Prognosis

The predicted course and outcome of the disease.

Chronic

Slower onset, long duration.

Terminal

Any disease that will end in death.

Remission

A period in which the disease's signs and symptoms subside.

Exacerbation

When a disease recurs in all its severity.

Relapse

When a disease returns weeks or months after apparent cessation.

Complication

A disease or other abnormal state that develops in a person already inflicted with a disease.

Sequela

The aftermath of a particular disease.

Mortality

The measure of the number of deaths attributed to a given population over a certain period of time.

Morbidity

The measure of the disability and extent of illness caused by a disease.

Prevalence

The number of cases a disease occurring at a given time in a specified population.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disease at a given time in a specified population.

Epidemiology

The study of occupancy, transmission, distribution, and control of disease.

Etiology

The cause of the disease.

Pathogenesis

The source or cause if a disease and its development.

Idiopathic

Cause of disease unknown.

Lesion

A damaged gene or enzyme, abnormal cells tissues, or organs.

Risk Factors

Something that increases the chance of developing a particular disease.

Treatment

Procedures for the cure or reduction of symptoms of disease.

palliative or symptomatic

treats just the symptoms.

curative

treats the causing agent

Immunity

The ability of the body to defend itself against infectious agents, foreign cells, and abnormal somatic cells.

Nonspecific Immunity defenses

Physical and chemical barriers, phagocytosis, Natural Killer Cells, Fever, Interferon, inflammation.

The Lymphatic System

A network of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and lymphoid organs that are used to fight off infections.

Lymphocytes

A type white blood cells produced from the Lymph Nodes.

Antigen

A foreign element that triggers the immune response.

Humoral Immunity

provides a defense against extracellular antigens such as bacterial toxins and cells and involves production of antibody molecules in response to antigens

Cell-mediated Immunity

provides a defense against viruses, abnormal cells, and other intracellular pathogens (responsible for rejecting tissue grafts and organ transplants)

Leokocytes

engulf and digest bacteria and other materials

Natural killer cells

recognizes and destroys abnormal cell membranes

complement

group of plasma proteins that assist in destruction of foreign cells

inflammation

the body's attempt to restore and maintain homeostasis after injury ; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat

Histamines and Kinins

cause of cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation

Lupus

Chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body. Affects women more between ages of 20-40

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

most common lupus; 70% of cases

Scleroderma

A disease characterized by the formation of scar tissue in connective tissues. Mostly affects women more in their 40s

immunoglobulins

antibody; 5 types

shock

blood pressure goes down, heart rate goes up

Sjögren's Syndrome

Chronic, slowly progressive autoimmune disease that affects the exocrine
(moisture-producing) glands of the body.

Primary Sjögren's

___ Sjögren's is when the disease occurs by itself

Secondary Sjögren's

___ Sjögren's is accompanied by diseases such as JRA or lupus.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that destroys an individual's immune system. It is now considered a pandemic, spreading through contact with infected bodily fluids (used needles, sexual contact).

Active Immunity

Received via specific vaccination.

Autoimmunity

When an individual develops antibodies called autoantibodies that attack their own tissues or self-antigens.

Passive Immunity

A person is injected with pre-formed antibodies.

Cortisol

A hormone released when an individual is under stress. This decreases the production of antibodies.

Pathogen/ Infectious Agent

A disease-causing organism.

Contagious/ Communicable

A disease transmitted by human contact.

Endemic

When a disease occurs at low levels in a population.

Epidemic

A disease that occurs in unusually large numbers over a specific area.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread to several large areas worldwide.

Outbreak

When a disease suddenly occurs in a limited area and then subsides.

Notifiable Diseases

Diseases that are under constant surveillance in the United States.

Reservoir

The source of an infectious agent.

Carriers

Those who harbor an infectious disease but show no symptoms.

Horizontal Transmission

Diseases spread from human to human contact.

Vertical Transmission

Diseases transmitted from a mother to a fetus.

IgE

antibodies that are well known for their role in mediating allergic reactions

IgG/IgM

destructive cells

Delayed hypersensitivity

same mechanism as cell mediated immunity

Bacteria

A microscopic, single-called organism.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms.

Fungi

Single-celled or multicelled organisms with cell walls that contain a special polysaccharide called Chitin.

Helminths

Is the most common worm infection in the United States. Worms infestation site is the anus/rectum

Ascariasis

A very common worm infection that causes strong itching sensation around the anus. Infections are usually asymptomatic.

Hookworms

Worms that hook onto skin and travel to the small intestine. Leading cause of anemia and protein malnutrition.

Nosocomial Infections

Hospital-acquired infections, infections contracted in a healthcare facility.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Antibiotics

Various drugs used to treat diseases caused by bacteria.

Emerging infectious diseases

Outbreaks of previously unknown or known diseases whose incidence has significantly increased in the past two decades.

Re-emerging infectious diseases

Known diseases that have reappeared after a significant decline in incidence.

NIAID

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

WHO

World Health Organization.

Tumor

Often a result of cancer, ______ are a lump of cells that can be harmful.

Neoplasm

New growth of a tumor.

Benign

Non-cancerous and localized.

Blood borne pathogens

microorganisms that are transmitted through blood

Mutation

A change in the biochemistry of a gene.

Oncogene

A gene that when mutated can result in the conversion of normal cells to cancer cells.

Etiology of cancer

Cancer can often be caused by exposure to carcinogens, environmental factors, or genetics.

Asbestos

Industrial chemicals (an occupational risk) that increase the risk of mesothelioma, lung, and other cancers.

prophylaxis

to prevent/the prevention of disease

Lung Cancer

The most common malignant disease worldwide, often caused by overuse of tobacco.

Histology

Cell structure abnormalities.

Gram +

only have a cell wall; colors purple

Gram -

has both cell membrane and cell wall; colors pink

measles

an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash.

mumps

an acute contagious viral disease characterized by fever and by swelling of the parotid glands. Can Affect testicles uterus (fertility). No cure but MMR vaccine for prevention

rubella

"german measles" (3 day measles). Highly contagious and there are few or no symptoms other than a rash. MMR vaccine for prevention