Medical Terminology Key Terms

Key Terms in Infectious Diseases

• A carrier is an individual who harbors infectious organisms but shows no overt disease.
• Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves.
• Incubation period is the time between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms.
• An indolent ulcer is an ulcer that fails to heal within the expected timeframe.
• A pseudomembrane is a layer of exudate resembling a membrane, formed on the skin or mucous membrane surface, often seen in conjunctiva.
• A secondary infection occurs during or after treatment for another infection.
• Whooping cough is a highly contagious acute respiratory tract infection caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
• Virulence refers to the severity or harmfulness of a disease.

Test your knowledge of key medical terms, including carrier, Guillain-Barre syndrome, incubation period, and indolent ulcer.