Public Health and Community Medicine - Patterns of Infectious Diseases

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of a reservoir in the chain of infection?

To transmit the pathogen directly to a new host

To provide a pathway for the pathogen to enter a new host

To provide a habitat for the pathogen to normally live and grow (correct)

To diagnose the type of pathogen present

Which of the following is an example of a portal of exit through the genitourinary tract?

Vomitus

Sneezing

Infected wound

Urine (correct)

What is the term for diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans?

Vector-borne diseases

Water-borne diseases

Zoonoses (correct)

Environmental diseases

Which of the following is an example of a pathogen that can be transmitted through the respiratory tract?

Influenza Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the disease-causing agent?

Pathogen Signup and view all the answers

Through which of the following can a pathogen exit the source host?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a disease that is constantly present in a certain area?

Endemic Signup and view all the answers

Which type of disease is naturally transmitted between animals and humans?

Zoonotic disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a localized epidemic that affects a large number of people in a specific group, such as a school or hospital?

Outbreak Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a disease that is imported into a country, such as malaria?

Exotic disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the chain of infection, also known as the infectious cycle?

A chain of factors necessary for the development and maintenance of an infectious disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a sudden appearance of a disease in a certain area and at a specific time?

Epidemic Signup and view all the answers

What is the component of the chain of infection that refers to the source of the infection?

Reservoir of infection Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of disease control that states that discontinuity of the chain of infection at any link will stop the infection?

The principle of disease control Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of infection and transmission from one source to another?

Communicable disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for organisms or substances that are capable of producing diseases?

Pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What type of disease is caused by an impairment in body function or structure that necessitates modification in person's lifestyle?

Non-communicable disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the entry, development, and/or multiplication of an infectious agent in the body of a man or animal?

Infection Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a biologic agent factor?

Viruses Signup and view all the answers

What type of disease is transmitted from animals to humans?

Zoonotic disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the living components of the external environment that can cause disease?

Biological environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the physical environment that can cause disease?

Physical environment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Patterns of Infectious Diseases

Sporadic: Scattered cases of a disease with unknown common source of infection
Endemic: Constant presence of a disease in a certain area (e.g. bilharziasis in Egypt)
Outbreak: A localized epidemic that affects a large number of people in a group (e.g. school, camp, hospital)
Epidemic: Sudden appearance of a disease in a certain area and at a specific time, or a disease occurs in excess of normal expectation
Pandemic: Epidemic spreads from one country to another in a short time, or occurs in different countries at the same time (e.g. influenza)
Exotic: A disease imported into a country (e.g. imported malaria)
Zoonotic: Diseases naturally transmitted between animals and humans (e.g. rabies, bovine tuberculosis, anthrax)

Chain of Infection

A chain of factors necessary for the development and maintenance of any infectious disease in the community
Discontinuity of the chain at any link will stop the infection (the principle of disease control)

Components of Infectious Cycle

Causative agent (pathogen)
Reservoir (source) of infection:
- Type
- Portal of exit
- Period of infectivity
Mode of transmission
Host:
- Portal of entry
- Incubation period
- Susceptibility and resistance
- Clinical features, complications, and diagnosis

Pathogen

The disease-causing agent
Examples: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, parasites, and fungi

Reservoir

The habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives and grows
Examples: human (cases, carriers), animal (zoonoses), environmental (plants, soil, and water)

Portal of Exit

The path by which an agent leaves the source host
Examples: respiratory tract (sneezing, coughing), GIT (vomitus, stool), genitourinary tract (urine, genital discharges), skin and mucous membrane discharges (infected wounds)

Agent Factors

Physical: excessive heat or cold, electricity, vibration, and radiation
Chemical: through ingestion, inhalation, or skin (poisons, insecticides, and some drugs)
Biologic: viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi
Nutritional: deficiency (e.g. iron deficiency anemia), excess (e.g. obesity)
Mechanical: causing injuries or accidents

Environmental Factors

Physical environment: living things as air and water
Biological environment: living components of external environment as insects, animals, and microbes

Terms to be Known

Infection: entry, development, and/or multiplication of infectious agent in the body of a man or animal
Pathogens: organisms or substances capable of producing diseases
Communicable diseases: diseases result from infection and transmitted directly or indirectly from man to man, animal to animal, animal to man, or from environment to man or animal
Non-communicable diseases: impairment in body function or structure that necessitates modification in person's lifestyle or has persisted for a long length of time

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of infectious diseases in communities, including sporadic, endemic, and outbreak cases. It is a part of the Public Health and Community Medicine course.