Infectious Disease and Pathogens Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards identifying key terminology and foundational concepts of infectious agents and disease progression extracted from lecture notes.

Pathogen

A biological agent, such as a bacterium, virus, or fungus, that causes disease or illness to its host.

what is a reservoir vs a vector?

a reservoir is the natural habitat where a pathogen lives and multiples, while a vector is an organism that transmits the pathogen from one host to another but does not cause the disease itself.

Infection

The process where disease-causing agents invade the body, begin to multiply, and cause a reaction in the host's tissues.

Primary pathogens

Microorganisms that are capable of causing disease in a healthy individual with a functional immune system.

Opportunistic pathogens

Microbes that typically do not cause disease in healthy individuals but can lead to illness when the host's immune system is compromised or weakened.

virulence

A measure of the degree of pathogenicity or the severity of the disease caused by a specific microorganism.

Stages of an infectious Disease

The sequential periods of disease progression, typically categorized into incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, and convalescence phases.

Infectious Agents Gain Access to the Body

The mechanisms and portals of entry, such as the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or broken skin, used by pathogens to enter a host.

write about the modes of transportation

droplet: respiratory secretions from coughing or sneezing

vector: living organisms that carry pathogens

vehicle: contaminated water, food, or air

what is an asymptomatic carrier?

an individual who is infected with a pathogen but shows no clinical signs of symptoms of the disease, yet can still pas the pathogen to others.

define endemic, epidemic, and pandemic.

endemic: a disease constantly present in a specific population or geographic area.

epidemic: a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that area.

pandemic: an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.