Infection Examples: Influenza, COVID-19, and Measles

These flashcards cover key concepts related to infection, immunity, viral diseases, and their management for nursing students in their Pathophysiology and Pharmacology courses.

Chain of Infection

A sequence of events that must occur for an infection to develop, including an infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.

Modes of Transmission

The various methods by which infectious agents are spread, including contact, droplet, airborne, vehicle, and vector-borne.

Non-specific Immunity

Also known as innate immunity, it provides the body’s first line of defense against pathogens.

Specific Immunity

Also known as adaptive immunity, it provides targeted protection against specific pathogens and develops memory after exposure to antigens.

Vaccines

Biological preparations that provide active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease by imitating infection.

Live-Attenuated Vaccines

Vaccines that contain a living but weakened form of the pathogen, leading to a robust immune response.

Inactivated Vaccines

Vaccines composed of pathogens that have been killed or inactivated, which cannot cause disease.

mRNA Vaccines

A new type of vaccine that uses messenger RNA to instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response.

Viral Load

The amount of virus present in the body, which can impact the severity of illness and potential complications.

Koplik’s Spots

Characteristic white or bluish spots inside the mouth that are pathognomonic for measles infection.

Antiviral Medications

Drugs designed to treat viral infections by inhibiting the development or replication of the virus.

Pathophysiology

The study of the disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury.

Incubation Period

The period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms.

Convalescence

The gradual recovery of health and strength after illness.

Contact Transmission

The transfer of infectious agents through direct or indirect contact with an infected individual or contaminated object.

Droplet Transmission

The spread of pathogens through respiratory droplets that are expelled from the respiratory tract of an infected person.

Airborne Transmission

The transmission of pathogens via aerosols that can remain suspended in the air and be inhaled.

Vector-Borne Transmission

The transfer of infectious agents through vectors, such as insects or animals, that carry the pathogen to a host.

Influenza

A contagious viral infection that primarily affects the respiratory system, characterized by fever, cough, and body aches.

COVID-19

A respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, characterized by symptoms such as fever, cough, and loss of taste or smell.

Measles

A highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, cough, and a characteristic rash, preventable by vaccination.