pbs review

epidemiology

epidemiology

A branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, causes, and control of health problems in a population.

Endemic

A disease perpetually present in a community or population within a specific geographic area. For example, malaria is endemic to parts of Africa, South America, and Asia.

Outbreak

A sudden increase in the occurrence of a disease in a localized area.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread across several countries or continents and affects a large number of people.

nosocomial infection

An infection acquired in a hospital; also known as a hospital-acquired infection or HAI.

Audience

Who will receive the information? For example, the public, health care professionals, governmental organizations.

Timing

When’s the right time? For example, releasing information too early could cause undue panic but communicating too late may risk additional exposure or incidents.

Method of Delivery

What is the best way to deliver the information? Examples include press releases, media interviews, social media, and journal articles.

disease

A disorder of structure or function in an organism that results in specific signs or symptoms, may affect a specific location in the organism, and is not a direct result of physical injury.

infection

The establishment of a disease-causing microorganism within a host.

host

An organism in which another organism lives.

pathogen

A disease-causing organism.

prion

Any of various infectious proteins that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins. they proliferate by inducing normal proteins to convert to the abnormal form that causes diseases

what diseases are examples of prions

mad cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and kuru.

virus

Any of a large group of nonliving, submicroscopic infective agents that typically comprise an RNA or DNA core of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat. they are not cellular and require a host in which to replicate. They cause various important diseases in all forms of life.

what diseases do viruses cause

covid 19, common cold, influenza, etc

bacteria

A single-celled, prokaryotic microorganism.

what diseases do bacteria cause

tuberculosis, strep throat, e. coli, salmonella, whooping cough, etc

protozoan

Any eukaryotic protist of the phylum or subkingdom Protozoa.

what diseases do protists cause

giardia lamblia/giardiasis, malaria, sleeping sickness

fungus

Saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic organisms that lack chlorophyll, such as molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms, and yeasts.

what diseases do fungus cause

tinea pedis/athlete’s foot

helminth

A large, eukaryotic, multicellular, parasitic worm, such as a tapeworm, liver fluke, ascarid, or leech.

what diseases do helminths cause

taenia, ascaris

how are prions treated

no cure, but medications slow progression

how are viruses treated

T-Antivirals, over-the-counter meds, vaccines, personal hygiene

how are bacteria treated

antibiotics, vaccines, proper sanitations and person hygiene

how are protists treated

antiprotozoal meds, proper sanitation and person hygiene

how are fungi treated

antifungals, avoid contact with infected host

how are helminths treated

deworming meds, avoid contact with insect bites, ingestion of contaminated meat/exposure to contaminated substance

innate immunity

Non-specific immune defense mechanisms that we are born with. These mechanisms work to keep anything outside of us from coming in.

acquired immunity

Specific immune defense mechanisms. This form of immunity is acquired over a lifetime and uses antibodies to respond to specific antigens

Active immunity

acquired following infection and recovery, or from a vaccine. Your body makes its own antibodies.

Passive immunity

acquired from the mother. Antibodies are given to a child through the placenta or through breast feeding.

antigen

Anything that stimulates an immune response.

T lymphocyte (T cell)

A type of white blood cell (lymphocyte) produced by the thymus and involved in the immune response.

B lymphocyte (B cell)

A type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) that matures in bone marrow and produces antibodies.

antibody

A protein produced by B cells in the blood; works to impair pathogens. Also called an immunoglobulin.

immunity

The ability to defend against a pathogen by preventing its entry and/or development or by neutralizing its pathogenic cellular products.

vaccine

A substance used to stimulate an immune response with the goal of creating antibodies and providing immunity to specific infections.

R-naught/R0

used to measure how infectious an agent of disease is

what is included in the chain of infection

agent of disease, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

agent of disease

prion, virus, bacteria, protist, fungi, helminth

reservoir

people, animals, the environment

portal of exit

skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital, conjunctiva

mode of transmission

direct and indirect

portal of entry

skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital, conjunctiva

susceptible hosts

anyone especially: children, elderly, weakened immune systems, unimmunized people