Note
Studied by 7 people
Public Health & Infectious-Disease Vocabulary
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
Strep Throat (Streptococcal Pharyngitis) | Streptococcus Pyogenes (Bacteria) | Direct Contact (saliva, nasal discharge, respiratory droplets) | red pharynx with white exudates, enlarged cervical nodes, fever; untreated infection may lead to scarlet fever or rheumatic fever | |
Scarlet Fever (Scarletina) | Streptococcus Pyogenes (Bacteria) | Happens when strep throat is not prevented | Fever; rash on chest and across the body; strawberry red tongue | |
Rheumatic Fever | Streptococcus Pyogenes (Bacteria) | Happens when strep throat is not prevented | Inflammation leads to damage of heart valves and muscle | |
Diptheria | Corynebacterium Diphtheriae (Bacteria) | respiratory droplets, direct contact and contaminated fomites | Type 1: involves the nose, tonsil, and throat Type 2: involves the skin | DTP or DTaP vaccine (children) and DT vaccine (non-immunized adults) |
Sinusitis | Streptococcus pneumonia Haemophilus influenzae | Non contagious | Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses; More common in adults | |
Otitus Media (Ear Ache) | Streptococcus pneumonia Haemophilus influenzae | Non contagious | Common and painful disease of early childhood; May lead to permanent hearing impairment. | |
Common Cold | Rhinoviruses Coronaviruses Adenoviruses Reoviruses Paramyxoviruses | respiratory droplets, direct contact and contaminated fomites | stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough |
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
Pneumococcal Pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumonia (bacteria) | droplet inhalation, direct oral contact, contact with contaminated hands and fomites | fever, productive cough, acute chest pain, chills, and shortness of breath. | |
Atypical Pneumonia (Walking Pneumonia) | Mycoplasma pneumonia (bacteria) | droplet inhalation, direct oral contact, contact with contaminated hands and fomites Common to highschool and College Students | gradual onset with headache, malaise, dry cough, sore throat, and less often, chest discomfort | |
Klebsiella Pneumonia | Klebsiella pneumoniae | droplet inhalation, direct oral contact Common to Alcoholics and can get from hospitals | often involves destruction of alveoli. May also cause meningitis, wound infections, and UTI |
Haemophilus influenzae - young children/infants
Staphylococcus aureus - young patients with lung problems
Yersinia pestis (pneumonic plague) - cause plague
Chlamydophila psittaci (ornithosis) - parrot fever
Chlamydophila pneumoniae - for school aged children
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE (Legionellosis) | Legionella pneumophila | inhaling mist from water sources such as whirlpool baths, showers, and cooling towers | A form of pneumonia. First known outbreak occurred in the Bellevue Stratford Hotel that was hosting a convention of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion. | |
TUBERCULOSIS | Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tubercle bacilli | airborne droplets | cough for two weeks or more, fever, chest or back pain, weight loss, blood-streaked sputum or hemoptysis Isoniazid, including rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, or streptomycin Two stages: Inactive - the organism has started to grow in the lungs but hasn't shown any symptoms. • Active - begins when the mycobacteria reach the pulmonary alveoli, where they invade and replicate. | |
PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) | Bordatella pertussis (bacteria) | Respiratory droplets produced by coughing Highly contagious, acute childhood infection. | cough followed by vomiting Severe coughing can also cause petechiae in the skin of the upper body | DTaP or DTP vaccine |
Respiratory Mycoses
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) | Coccidioides immitis (fungi) Natural reservoir: soil | inhalation of arthroconidia | Initially resembling pneumonia or tuberculosis | |
Blastomycosis | Blastomyces dermatitidis (fungi) Natural reservoir: soil rich in organic materials | Inhalation of dust carrying fungal spores | ||
Histoplasmosis | Histoplasma capsulatum (fungi) Natural reservoir: moist soil rich in nitrogen | inhalation of spores carried by wind due to disturbance of soil containing fungus | Usually asymptomtic |
SKIN AND WOUND INFECTIONS
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
IMPETIGO (Pyoderma) | Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pyogenes (bacteria) | person to person contact or via contaminated fomites | infection of the skin resulting in blisters that may occur anywhere on the body but are usually observed around the nose or mouth | |
NECROTIZING FASCIITIS | Streptococcus pyogenes (bacteria) | Bacteria enter the body through wounds | Flesh-eating strep Tissue destruction may occur so rapidly as to be visible within an hour | |
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER (Tickborne Typhus Fever) | Rickettsia rickettsia (bacterial parasites) | bite of an infected hard tick (Dermacentor) | Manifests with a non-itchy, spotted rash on the trunk and appendages, including palms and soles | |
ANTHRAX (Wool Sorter's Disease) | Bacillus anthracis Three types:
| Occurs among textile and wool-factory workers and among agricultural people | primary a disease of cattle and horses. | |
SMALLPOX | Variola virus (orthopoxvirus) | The first human disease to be eradicated globally in nature | No approved antiviral treatment | |
MONKEYPOX | Monkeypox virus (Orthopoxvirus) Endemic in several other central and western African countries First Mpox case in the Philippines: 31 y/o filipino (July 28, 2022 ) | When a person comes into contact with the virus from an infected animal, infected person, or materials contaminated with the virus | a rash that progresses from flat, red spots to bumps, then blisters, and finally scabs, often accompanied by flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes | no treatment |
CHICKENPOX (Varicella) | Varicella-Zoster virus | Slight fever and characteristic skin lesions Respiratory route or skin breaks No cure, but Acyclovir provides relief from painful rash | Chickenpox vaccination | |
SHINGLES | Varicella-Zoster virus | Reactivation of VZV (after having chickenpox) | ||
MEASLES (Rubeola or Hard Measles) | Measles virus (Morbillivirus) | Serious childhood disease | Cough, runny nose, red eyes/conjunctivitis, fever, blotchy rash | Measles vaccine (MMR) |
GERMAN MEASLES (Rubella or Three-Day Measles) | Rubella virus (Rubivirus) | Benign disease in children | Causing swollen lymph nodes and mild rash Respiratory secretions | Rubella vaccine (MMR) |
LEISHMANIASIS | Leishmania Three clinical forms of leishmaniasis often observed
| Wild and domestic dogs and small rodents are common hosts | Most cases heal without treatment | |
DERMATOPHYTOSES (Ringworm or Tinea) | Three genera of ascomycetes:
| Tinea pedis or Athlete's Foot - ringworm of the feet
| mycotic or fungal infection of keratinized parts of the body (skin, hair, and nails) |
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE EYES
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
MENINGITIS |
| No specific treatment | ||
LEPROSY (Hansens's Disease) | Mycobacterium leprae (bacteria) Two types
| via person to person | affects chiefly the skin, mucous membrane, and peripheral nerves. | |
TETANUS (Lockjaw) | Clostridium tetani (bacteria) | Contracted through a wound which becomes contaminated with the organism. | muscular stiffness in the jaw, followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, rigidly of abdominal muscles, spasms, sweating and fever. | Penicillin and active immunization, DTP/ DTaP |
POLIOMYELITIS (Infantile Paralysis) | poliovirus, a member of the family Picornaviridae | via fecal-oral route, and also by throat secretion More common in infants and young children and occurs under conditions of poor hygiene. | Fever, severe muscle pain, paralysis, difficulty in breathing, inability to move affected arm/leg, death | Salk vaccine and Sabin vaccine |
RABIES | Rabies virus, a member of family Rhabdoviridae | entrance of virus-laden saliva into lesions or open wounds, which are generally caused by the bite | Headache & fever, pain or numbness of bite site, delirium & paralysis, muscle spasms, hydrophobia & aerophobia | Human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV) |
AFRICAN TRYPANOSOMIASIS (African Sleeping Sickness) | (protozoan parasites) Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Trypanosoma brucei r hodesiense | Transmission occurs via bites of Tsetse fly. | Early stages: the disease include intense headache, insomnia, anemia, local edema, and rash. • Later stages: body wasting, falling asleep, coma, and even death. | |
AMERICAN TRYPANOSOMIASIS (Chagas Disease) | Trypanosoma cruzi Vector: Kissing Bugs | |||
TRACHOMA | Chlamydia trachomatis | transmitted by towels, handkerchiefs, or fingers spread by flies which serve as mechanical vectors | Communicable disease of the eyes | |
SORE EYES (Conjunctivitis) | Adenovirus Chemicals Trauma | direct contact | begins in one eye, watery to pus-like discharge, redness of the eye with pain or itching, eyelids stuck together |
CARDIOVASCULAR AND SYSTEMIC DISEASES
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
TULAREMIA (Rabbit Fever) | Francisella tularensis | contracted by man from rabbits, opossums, rodents, quail, and other game animals. Occurs via tick bite, ingestion of contaminated meat, inhalation of dust, and animal bite | Results in skin ulcer, pharyngitis, or pneumonia | |
PLAGUE | Yersinia pestis Three types:
| Transmission is usually via flea bite (from rodent to flea to human). | ||
MALARIA |
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DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
Cholera | Vibrio cholerae | eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the fecal waste of an infected person. more often in undeveloped countries | Disease that affects the intestinal tract watery stools, occasional vomiting, and rapid dehydration. | |
Salmonellosis | Salmonella enterica | eating or drinking contaminated food and water or by contact with infected people or animals. | affects the intestinal tract and occasionally the blood stream | |
Typhoid Fever (Enteric Fever) | Salmonella typhi or typhoid bacillus Paratyphoid Fever (less severe infection) - caused by Salmonella paratyphi. |
| Sustained high fever, headache, malaise, anorexia, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal discomfort. | Antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin |
Shigellosis (Bacillary Dysentery) |
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| Acute infection of the lining of the small and large intestine, producing diarrhea (as many as 20 bowel movements a day) with blood, mucus, and pus. | |
MUMPS | mumps virus, a member of the family Paramyxoviridae | direct contact with saliva and discharges from the nose and throat of infected individuals. | fever, swelling and tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands. | |
HEPATITIS A | hepatitis A virus (HAV) - found in the stool (feces) of HAV-infected people | fecal oral route | ||
GIARDIASIS | Giardia duodenalis (Giardia lamblia or Cercomonas intestinalis) (protozoan parasite) | ia the fecal-oral route, usually by ingestion by fecally contaminated food or water. | Infection of the uppermost portion of the small intestine. experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, abdominal gas, fatigue, and weight loss. | |
AMEBIASIS (Amebic Dysentery) | Entamoeba histolytica (Protozoa) | via ingestion of fecally contaminated food or water, by flies transporting cysts from feces to food, by oral-anal sexual contact, or by anal intercourse involving multiple sexual partners. | recognized more often in people arriving from tropical or subtropical areas |
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
CHLAMYDIA | Chlamydia trachomatis (most common bacterial STI) | 15 to 24 years old | 50% have NO symptoms - men and women FEMALE SYMPTOMS
MALE SYMPTOMS
| Can be treated with antibiotics |
GONORRHEA | Neisseria Gonorrhoeae | Most common at age15 to 29 y/o | Often NO symptoms, especially in females FEMALE SYMPTOMS
MALE SYMPTOMS
| Can be treated with antibiotics |
SYPHILIS | Treponema pallidum | Most common at age15 to 30 y/o | PRIMARY (3 days - 3 months)
SECONDARY (2 - 24 weeks)
TERTIARY (shows up many years later)
| |
TRICHOMONIASIS | Trichomonas vaginalis | Most commonly infected part: Women: lower genital tract (vulva, vagina, or urethra) Men: inside of the penis (urethra) | FEMALE SYMPTOMS
MALE SYMPTOMS
| |
HEPATITIS B | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Virus that attacks the liver | Most infected people (90%) naturally produce antibodies to fight the disease, but some develop chronic HBV and will carry the virus for the rest of their life | can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, and cancer | NO CURE, but vaccination can prevent infection |
GENITAL HERPES | (HSV-1) causing cold sores (HSV-2) causing genital herpes | Spread through direct vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact with an infected partner transmitted by receiving oral sex from a partner with a history of cold sores | viral infection causing outbreaks of painful sores and blisters | can be treated with antiviral medications, but NO CURE |
GENITAL WARTS | Human Papilloma Virus 75% of people will have at least one HPV infection during their lifetime | spread by vaginal or anal intercourse and by oral sex. | Growths that appear on the vagina or penis, near the anus, and sometimes in the throat appear within several weeks to months after sex with a person who has HPV | NO CURE, but vaccination is available to prevent certain types of HPV |
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) | Type 1 and 2 HIV, a member of the family Retroviridae. | Spreads when infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk gets into the bloodstream of another person HIV is not spread through saliva | no symptoms for 10 or more years. Attacks the body's immune system. | |
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) | Late stage of HIV disease | no cure | ||
YEAST VAGINITIS | Candida albicans | contact with secretions or excretions of the mouth, skin, vagina, or feces of patients or carriers, also by passage from mother to neonate during childbirth. | vulvar prutitis (itching), a burning sensation, and a white discharge. | |
THRUSH | Candida albicans | Yeast infection of the oral cavity, where white creamy patches occur on the tongue, mucous membranes, and the corners of the mouth |
GLOBAL OUTBREAKS
CAUSATIVE AGENT | TRANSMISSION | KEY SIGNS | PREVENTION | |
AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) | A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) have caused serious infection. A(H5N1) virus subtype - 1997 during a poultry outbreak in Hong Kong A(H7N) virus subtype - March 2013 in China | The majority of human cases have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry. | ||
2009 FLU PANDEMIC | H1N1/09 virus outbreak began in Mexico | had never been identified as a cause of infections in people before | Transmited as easily as the normal seasonal flu and can be passed to other people by exposure to infected droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing that can be inhaled, or that can contaminate hands or surfaces. | |
SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) | SARS-associated coronavirus First reported in Asia in February 2003. By late July 2003, no new cases were being reported and the outbreak was considered contained | spread by close person-to-person contact | begins with a high fever, sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including a headache, a general feeling of discomfort, and body aches After 2-7 days, SARS patient may develop a dry cough with most developing pneumonia. | |
MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (MERS-CoV) | Caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. | occurs by contact with secretions or excretions of mouth, skin, vagina, or feces of patients or carriers, also by passage from mother to neonate during childbirth | Consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive-care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock | |
PUBIC LICE & SCABIES | parasitic infestations | Pubic lice: tiny crab-like insects that nest in pubic hair & bite their host to feed on blood Scabies: mites that burrow below the surface of the skin to lay their eggs | live for 1 - 3 days on bedding, towels and clothing | Treated with medicated creams & lotions Treatment is supportive and based on the patient's clinical condition. |
EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (Ebola haemorrhagic fever) | ebola virus First outbreaks - remote villages (Central Africa, near tropical rainforests) | Transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission | Early Symptoms:
Mid-Stage Symptoms:
Late-Stage Symptoms: Internal and external bleeding (including from puncture sites and body orifices), Organ failure, Shock, and Death. | no licensed treatment proven no licensed Ebola vaccines |
ZIKA | Zikavirus cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome | virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes | symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, musle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated. | |
COVID-19 | SARS-CoV-2 discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. | causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, a flu, or pneumonia. | spread in three main ways: 1. Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus. 2. Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze. 3. Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them. |