Prevention and Control of Diseases and Illnesses

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the prevention and control of diseases and illnesses, relevant for healthcare and public health studies.

Communicable Diseases

Diseases that can be spread from one person to another.

Infectious Diseases

Diseases caused by pathogens.

Chronic Illnesses

Long-lasting health conditions that can be controlled but not cured.

Acute Injuries

Injuries that occur suddenly and can require immediate medical attention.

Epidemiologic Triangle

A model used to understand the interactions between agent, host, and environment in the spread of disease.

Chain of Infection

A model used to identify and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Agent

The cause of a disease.

Communicability

The ability of a pathogen to spread from one individual to another.

Pathogenicity

The ability of a pathogen to cause disease.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity of an organism, including the severity of disease it can cause.

Antibiotic Resistance

The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics.

Host

A living organism that can be infected by a pathogen.

Immunity

The ability of the body to resist infection or disease.

Herd Immunity

When a significant portion of a population is immune to an infectious disease, helping to protect the entire community.

Risk Factors for Host Susceptibility

Factors that increase an individual's likelihood of infection.

Environmental Factors

External conditions that can affect an individual's health and susceptibility to disease.

Modes of Transmission

The ways in which a pathogen is transmitted from one host to another.

Direct Transmission

Pathogen transfer directly from one reservoir to a susceptible host.

Indirect Transmission

Pathogen transfer via an intermediary, such as a vector or fomite.

Vector

An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Fomite

An inanimate object that can carry infectious agents.

Foodborne Illness

Illness caused by consuming contaminated food.

Waterborne Illness

Illness caused by consuming contaminated water.

Zoonotic Illness

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Chronic Disease Prevention Strategies

Methods aimed at preventing chronic diseases, including lifestyle changes.

Substance Abuse

The harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and drugs.

Naloxone

A medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.

Suicide Prevention Strategies

Initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of suicide.

Public Health Problems

Issues affecting the health of a population that require a collective response.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A national public health institution in the U.S. that focuses on disease control and health promotion.

Chronic Disease Directors

Professionals specializing in the management and prevention of chronic diseases.

Substance Abuse Risk Factors

Variables that may increase the likelihood of substance abuse.

Mental Illness

A wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior.

Economic Supports

Financial resources provided to individuals to enhance their living conditions.

Protective Environments

Social and environmental factors that reduce risk and promote well-being.

Connectedness

The state of being related to or having social ties with others.

Access to Mental Health Care

The availability and affordability of mental health services.

Giardiasis

An intestinal infection caused by Giardia lamblia, often spread through contaminated water.

Legionnaire's Disease

A severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, commonly found in water.

Norovirus

A highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis.

Ocitis Externa

An infection of the outer ear canal, often referred to as 'swimmer's ear'.

Salmonella

A group of bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

Campylobacter

A bacterium that is one of the most common causes of food poisoning worldwide.

Tuberculosis

A serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.

Lyme Disease

A tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

Mental Resilience

The ability to adapt to stress and adversity.

Social Support

The perception and reality of being cared for, valued, and connected.

Smoking Cessation

The process of discontinuing tobacco smoking.

Healthy Diet

A diet that helps maintain or improve overall health.

Adequate Sleep

Sufficient sleep required for optimal health and functioning.

Education on Substance Abuse

Programs aimed at informing individuals about the effects of substance use.

Public Health Education

Efforts to inform the population about health issues and prevention strategies.

Public Health Policies

Decisions made by governmental bodies to promote and protect community health.

Epidemiology

The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations.

Disease Surveillance

The ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data.

Community Health Assessment

A process to understand health needs and assets of a community.

Preventive Health Services

Services aimed at preventing disease and improving health.

Mortality Rate

The number of deaths in a given area or due to a particular cause.

Morbidity Rate

The incidence of disease or illness in a population.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes among different population groups.

Social Determinants of Health

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Behavioral Risk Factors

Individual behaviors that increase the risk of disease or injury.

Preventive Measures

Actions taken to avoid disease or injury.

Health Promotion

The process of enabling people to increase control over their health.

Biostatistics

The application of statistics to biological and health-related processes.

Infectious Disease Control

Measures taken to reduce the occurrence and impact of infectious diseases.

Health Care Systems

Organizations that provide health care services.

Vaccine Efficacy

The ability of a vaccine to provide protection against disease.

Immunization Strategies

Approaches to ensure vaccination against preventable diseases.

Antiviral Drugs

Medications used to treat viral infections.

Chronic Pain Management

Approaches to alleviate long-term pain.

Opioid Crisis

The widespread misuse of prescription and non-prescription opioid medications.

Mental Health Treatment

Medical and therapeutic interventions for individuals with mental health conditions.

Emergency Response

Actions taken to address urgent health threats or disasters.

Health Risk Assessment

A method to evaluate an individual's risk for health issues.

Prevention Programs

Initiatives designed to reduce health risks and promote wellness.

Health Literacy

The ability to obtain and understand health information.

Cultural Competence

The ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures.

Infection Control Practices

Protocols aimed at preventing the spread of infections.

Community Engagement

The process of working collaboratively with community members.

Public Health Technology

Use of technology in promoting and protecting health.

Nursing Interventions

Actions taken by nurses to promote patient health and wellbeing.

Evidence-Based Practice

Clinical practices based on research evidence to improve health outcomes.

Patient Education

Informing patients about their health and treatment options.

Therapeutic Communication

The purposeful use of communication to promote a patient’s well-being.

Clinical Guidelines

Systematically developed statements to assist healthcare decisions.

Quality Improvement

Ongoing effort to improve services and outcomes in healthcare.

Health Outcomes

The impact of healthcare interventions on health status.

Nursing Strategies

Approaches used by nurses to deliver effective care.

Chronic Disease Management

A comprehensive approach to managing chronic conditions.

Screening Programs

Tests to detect health issues before symptoms arise.

Wellness Programs

Initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles.

Palliative Care

Specialized medical care for people living with serious illnesses.

Advocacy in Health

Supporting and promoting the interests of individuals in health matters.

Health Policy Advocacy

Efforts to influence government policies related to health.

Mental Health Awareness

Efforts to increase understanding of mental health issues.

Healthcare Communication

Effective exchange of information in healthcare settings.

Nursing Education

Training and instruction for nursing professionals.

Patient Advocacy

Acting on behalf of patients’ rights and interests.

Resilience Building

Developing the capacity to recover from difficulties.