The Conquest of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Diseases

These flashcards cover key concepts from the chapters on infectious and chronic diseases, including definitions, classifications, historical perspectives, and public health measures.

What are the classifications of diseases mentioned in Chapter 9?

Communicable disease, non-communicable diseases, and infectious diseases.

What is Koch’s Postulates?

A method to identify an infectious agent through four criteria about its presence in diseased organisms.

What major infectious diseases were considered killers in the past?

Bubonic plague, tuberculosis, smallpox, cholera, typhoid, typhus, yellow fever, diphtheria.

What are examples of infectious agents?

Bacteria (e.g., tuberculosis), viruses (e.g., smallpox), parasites (e.g., malaria), fungi (e.g., athlete's foot), and prions (e.g., CJD).

What is an example of a chronic disease?

Heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, depression, diabetes.

What does epidemiologic transition refer to?

A transition where infectious diseases are replaced by chronic diseases as life expectancy increases.

What measures helped conquer infectious diseases by the 1960s?

Immunization, antibiotics, public health measures such as water purification and sewage disposal.

What factors increase susceptibility to infections?

Age, chronic diseases, weakened immune states, invasive devices, and malnutrition.

What are the reasons to interrupt the chain of infection?

Kill the pathogen, eliminate reservoirs, prevent transmission, and increase host resistance.

What was significant about the eradication of smallpox?

Smallpox was eradicated in 1977 due to no nonhuman reservoir and a successful vaccine.

What is the leading cause of infectious-disease death worldwide?

Tuberculosis.

What are primary and secondary hypertension?

Primary hypertension has no known cause, while secondary hypertension is related to identifiable causes.

What is the link between diabetes and obesity?

Type 2 diabetes is closely correlated with obesity.

What are genetic diseases caused by?

Chromosomal abnormalities, mutations, and environmental influences.

What is the role of the Human Genome Project?

It aims for understanding genetic diseases and developing targeted therapies.