| A | B |
|---|
| Pathogen | microorganism that causes sickness |
| Epidemic | Higher than expected numbers outside the normal geographic range |
| Pandemic | Worldwide global outbreak |
| Endemic | Infections that occur constantly in a population |
| Pathogenicity | Capacity of microbes to cause disease |
| Incubation period of disease | occurs after initial entry of pathogen into host; Pathogen begins multiplying |
| Prodromal period of disease | occurs after incubation period; General symptoms “I’m coming down with something”; fatigue, pain, soreness, swelling |
| Acute period of disease | Pathogen and infectious disease at its peak; Signs and symptoms most obvious and severe; Symptoms appear suddenly, but resolve quickly |
| Convalescence period of disease | Patient is healing ; Returning to homeostasis |
| Communicable diseases | Transmissible between individuals |
| Mode of transmission: Direct contact | Touch an infectious lesion directly or through sexual intercourse. Microbes may be in the blood, body secretions, or a lesion.; Ex: syphilis |
| Mode of transmission: Indirect contact | Hands, food, inanimate objects, or bed linens carry an organism; Ex: lice |
| Mode of transmission: Droplet | Respiratory or salivary secretions (large) containing pathogens are expelled from the body; Ex: influenza |
| Mode of transmission: Aerosol | Small particles from the respiratory tract remain suspended in the air and travel on air currents to infect new hosts who inhale the particles; Ex: measles |
| Mode of transmission: Vector | An insect or animal serves as an intermediary host; Ex: malaria |
| Local signs/symptoms of infection | Swelling; erythema; pain; exudate |
| Systemic signs/symptoms of infection | Fever; leukocytosis; elevated ESR; fatigue; anorexia; headache |
| Leukocytosis | Elevated WBCs |
