Infectious Diseases from Past to Present

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering major infectious diseases and concepts discussed in the lecture notes.

Origin of epidemic diseases

The history of epidemic diseases begins with the transition to agriculture and settled life.

Plague in Athens (5th Century BC)

A major ancient epidemic in Athens during the 5th century BCE.

Black Death in Asia and Europe (14th Century)

A devastating plague outbreak in the 14th century affecting Asia and Europe.

Syphilis in Europe (15th and 16th Century)

A major epidemic of syphilis in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Spanish Flu (1918)

A global influenza pandemic that began in 1918, causing about 10% mortality among those infected.

H5N1 Bird Flu (2005)

Bird flu caused by an influenza virus; transmission can occur via direct contact, contaminated surfaces, or airborne droplets; human infections are rare but possible.

Smallpox

Eradicated globally; last case in 1977 and WHO certification in 1980; the only human disease to be eradicated.

Measles

An infectious disease seen at all ages, more common in children.

Diphtheria

Disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae; can lead to serious illness and death when it affects throat, nose, eyes, or skin.

Poliomyelitis

Polio vaccine triumph ended the polio threat.

Leprosy

Chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae; discovered by Hansen in 1873; mainly affects nerves, skin, mucosa, eyes, bones, and reproductive organs.

Cholera

Disease that causes acute and severe diarrhea; more likely where water and personal hygiene are inadequate.

Cholera prevention

Prevention includes drinking treated water, thoroughly cooked foods, peeling fruits, avoiding ice, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Plague (Yersinia pestis)

Contagious and lethal disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, primarily affecting rodents and transmitted to humans by fleas.

Plague epidemics timeline

Major plague events: Justinian's Plague (AD 542), Black Death (1346–1353), Third Plague Epidemic (1884).

Black Death

The Black Death epidemic that swept Europe and parts of Asia in the mid-14th century (1346–1353).

Third Plague Epidemic

A plague outbreak beginning in 1884 leading to widespread cases globally.

Malaria

Infectious disease transmitted to humans by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes, mainly between sunset and sunrise.

Malaria transmission routes

Infection can also occur via blood transfusion, organ transplantation, needle sharing, or mother-to-fetus transmission.

Leishmaniasis

Parasitic disease transmitted by infected female sand flies; involves promastigote and amastigote stages in the lifecycle.

Yellow fever

Infectious disease transmitted by daytime-biting mosquitoes; endemic regions exist in parts of Africa and the Americas.

Zika virus

Virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes; many infections are asymptomatic but can cause fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and joint pain; can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.

AIDS and HIV

HIV is the virus that attacks immune cells; there is no cure but it is treatable with medicine; spread through bodily fluids, commonly via unprotected sex or sharing needles.

Ebola virus disease

Rare but severe and often fatal illness; transmission from wild animals and human-to-human; average case fatality rate around 50%.},{