Diseases definitions

Diseases dilemmas definitions :)

Health

The overall condition of an individual at a given time in relation to physical well-being

Epidemiology

The branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health

Infectious

They are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi
It means that the diseases can be spread (directly or indirectly) from one person to another

Non-infectious

A non-communicable disease due to age or genetic defects

Contagious

A class of infectious diseseas which are easily spread by direct (eg sharing bodily fluids) or indirect (eg coughing) contact between people

Non-contagious

Not spread by contact → usually requires a special mode of transmission between people or hosts, such as vectors (mosquitoes) or by non-casual transfer of bodily fluid (eg blood transfusions or sharing needles)

Communicable

An infectious disease transmissable by direct contact with an affected individual or their discharges, or by indirect means (by a vector)

Non-communicable

Also known as chronic diseases, they are not passed from person to person
They have a long duration + generally progress slowly

What are the 4 main types of non-communicable diseases?

Cardiovascular diseases
Cancers
Chronic respiratory diseases
Diabetes

Endemic

A disease which exists permanently in a geographical area or population group
Example: sleeping sickness that is confined to rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa

Epidemic

An often sudden increase of a disease above what is normally expected in that population
The disease attacks many people at the same time + spreads through a population in a restricted geographical area

Pandemic

An extensive epidemic → a pandemic is more widespread, affecting many countries or continents

Zoonotic diseases

Infectious diseases of animals which can cause disease when transmitted from animals to humans
Examples include: rabies and plague

Mortality

Death
The term may also include a cause of death eg an injury or medical condition

Morbidity

The state of being ill or deceased, or the occurrence of a disease or condition that damages health and quality of life
It can also be used to mean the frequency of the occurance of a particular disease in a society

Vector

Things that carry a pathogen eg sand flies

Pathogen

Microorganisms that cause a disease eg bacteria and viruses → bacteria release toxins and viruses damage our cells

Prevalence of disease

The total number of cases in a population at a particular time

Incidence of disease

The number of new cases in a population during a particular time period

Incidence rate

The number of new cases of disease divided by the number of people at risk

Disease

A disorder of function in a human that produces specific symptoms and is not the direct result of a physical injury

Degenerative

A disease that gets worse as time progresses