Disease Vocabulary
acute: (of an illness) having a rapid onset, usually sudden and severe
etiology: The cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
prion: A misfolded protein that can induce misfolding of normal variants of the same protein and trigger cellular death.
antibiotic: A chemical substance produced by a living organism that is detrimental to other microorganisms.
fungus: A group of single-celled or multicellular eukaryotic organisms that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic debris.
prognosis: The expected course and outcome of a disease or condition.
antiseptic: A substance that stops or slows down the growth of microorganisms.
helminth: A parasitic worm, especially an intestinal worm.
protozoa: A group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic debris.
arthropod: Invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda, possessing an exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, a body with differentiated segments, and paired jointed appendages.
host: A person who receives or entertains guests socially, commercially, or officially; or an organism that harbors a parasite, mutual partner, or commensal partner.
sign: An objective evidence of disease especially as observed and interpreted by the physician rather than by the patient or lay observer.
asepsis: The state of being free from disease-causing contaminants or preventing contact with microorganisms. Infection: The process by which an infectious agent invades and multiplies in the body tissues.
sterilization: The process of making something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms.
bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent on another organism for life).
microbiome: The combined genetic material of the microorganisms in a particular environment.
symptom: A physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
chronic: (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
microorganism: A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
syndrome: A group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
diagnosis: The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
nosocomial infection: An infection that is contracted from the environment or staff of a healthcare facility.
systemic: Relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part.
disease: A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location.
opportunistic infection: An infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available, such as a host with a weakened immune system, an altered microbiota, or breached integumentary barriers.
therapy: Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.
disinfectant: A chemical liquid that destroys bacteria.
pandemic: (of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.
toxin: An antigenic poison or venom of plant or animal origin, especially one produced by or derived from microorganisms and causing disease when present at low concentration in the body.
endemic: (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
parasite: An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense.
vector: An organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.
endospore: A resistant asexual spore that develops inside some bacteria cells.
pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
virulence: The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
pathophysiology: The disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury.
virus: An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host
acute: (of an illness) having a rapid onset, usually sudden and severe
etiology: The cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.
prion: A misfolded protein that can induce misfolding of normal variants of the same protein and trigger cellular death.
antibiotic: A chemical substance produced by a living organism that is detrimental to other microorganisms.
fungus: A group of single-celled or multicellular eukaryotic organisms that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic debris.
prognosis: The expected course and outcome of a disease or condition.
antiseptic: A substance that stops or slows down the growth of microorganisms.
helminth: A parasitic worm, especially an intestinal worm.
protozoa: A group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic debris.
arthropod: Invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda, possessing an exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, a body with differentiated segments, and paired jointed appendages.
host: A person who receives or entertains guests socially, commercially, or officially; or an organism that harbors a parasite, mutual partner, or commensal partner.
sign: An objective evidence of disease especially as observed and interpreted by the physician rather than by the patient or lay observer.
asepsis: The state of being free from disease-causing contaminants or preventing contact with microorganisms. Infection: The process by which an infectious agent invades and multiplies in the body tissues.
sterilization: The process of making something free from bacteria or other living microorganisms.
bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent on another organism for life).
microbiome: The combined genetic material of the microorganisms in a particular environment.
symptom: A physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
chronic: (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
microorganism: A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.
syndrome: A group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms.
diagnosis: The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
nosocomial infection: An infection that is contracted from the environment or staff of a healthcare facility.
systemic: Relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part.
disease: A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location.
opportunistic infection: An infection caused by pathogens that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available, such as a host with a weakened immune system, an altered microbiota, or breached integumentary barriers.
therapy: Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.
disinfectant: A chemical liquid that destroys bacteria.
pandemic: (of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.
toxin: An antigenic poison or venom of plant or animal origin, especially one produced by or derived from microorganisms and causing disease when present at low concentration in the body.
endemic: (of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
parasite: An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense.
vector: An organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a disease or parasite from one animal or plant to another.
endospore: A resistant asexual spore that develops inside some bacteria cells.
pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
virulence: The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
pathophysiology: The disordered physiological processes associated with disease or injury.
virus: An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host