Epidemiology: Disease Frequency and Outbreaks

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Questions and Answers

Why are specific terms used to describe the frequency of a disease?

To determine the cause of a disease
To track the number of deaths due to a disease
To understand the severity of a disease
To understand how widespread a disease is and who is at risk of being exposed to it (correct)

What is the main difference between a sporadic disease and an epidemic?

The severity of the disease
The cause of the disease
The frequency of the disease (correct)
The number of people affected

What is necessary for a pathogen to cause disease?

Only evading the immune system and inflicting damage on host tissues
Entering the host body, evading the immune system, adhering to specific host cells, invading and colonizing host tissues, and inflicting damage on those tissues (correct)
Only adhering to specific host cells and invading host tissues
Only entering the host body

What is the term for an organism that causes disease?

Pathogen (A) Signup and view all the answers

When does disease occur?

If and when the invasion and growth of a pathogen impair bodily functions (C) Signup and view all the answers

What must a pathogen do to infect a host?

Enter the host body, evade the immune system, adhere to specific host cells, invade and colonize host tissues, and inflict damage on those tissues (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a pathogen invades and grows within a host?

The host's bodily functions may be impaired (B) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Disease Frequency

Epidemiologists use specific terms to describe the frequency or number of cases of a disease in a population to understand the disease's spread and identify at-risk individuals.

Disease Classification

Sporadic disease: occurs infrequently and irregularly.
Epidemic: a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease in a population.

Infection and Disease

Infection occurs when a disease-causing organism invades and grows within a host organism
Disease occurs when the invasion and growth of a pathogen impairs bodily functions

Pathogens

Pathogens are organisms that are infectious and cause disease
To cause disease, pathogens must:
- Enter the host body
- Evade the immune system
- Adhere to specific host cells
- Invade and colonize host tissues
- Inflict damage on host tissues