Epidemiology Terminology PDF

Termonology in epidemiology Dr Sania Rizgalla Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of disease than expect In agiven area or among a specific group of people over aparticular time. Endemic: Constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographical area or populatio...

Termonology in epidemiology Dr Sania Rizgalla Epidemic: The occurrence of more cases of disease than expect In agiven area or among a specific group of people over aparticular time. Endemic: Constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographical area or population group Pandemic: An epidemic occurring over a very wide area (several countries or contents) and usually affecting a large proportion of the population Health: A state of complete physical, mental, social and environmental well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Infection: The entry and development or multiplication of an nfectious agents in the body of person or animal SPORADIC The cases occurs irregularly, haphazardly from time to time and generally infrequently Contagious Agent or disease that is capable of being transmitted from one person to anther by contact or close proximity. Zoonosis An infectious disease that is transmissible under normal conditions from animal to human. Communicable disease An illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that arises through transmission of that agent from reservoir to susceptible host. Period of Communicability The time during which an infectious agent may be transmitted directly or indirectly from infected person to anther person or animal. Nosocomial infection occurring in a patient in healthcare facility in whom it was not present or incubating at the time of admission. Reservoir The habitat in which infectious agent normally lives, grows and multiplies. It may be human, animal or environment. Carrier A person or animal without apparent disease Who harbors a specific infectious agent and is capable of transmitting the agent to others. Incubation period The period from infection to the Onset of symptoms or signs of infectious disease. Prepatent period The period in people between time of exposure to parasite and the time when the parasite can be detected in blood or stool. Host: A person or other living organism That can be infected by an infectious agent under normal condition. ISOLATION A separation person infectiodisease contact human with beings from other for the period of communicability. Chemoprophylaxis The administration of chemicals, including antibiotics, to prevent the development of an infection or the progression of an infection to active disease or to eliminate the carriage of a specific infectious agent to prevent its transmission to disease. Chemotherapy The administration of chemicals, including antibiotics, to treat diseases. Morbidity Any departure, subjective or objective from state of physiological or psychological well being. Risk factor Factor Associated with an increased occurrence of disease or other health-related event or condition. Pathogenicity The proportion of persons infected after exposure to a causative agent, who then develops clinical disease. Virulence Degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism as indicated by the severity of the disease produced and its ability to invade the tissues of a host; the competence of any infectious agent to produce pathologic effects. Thanks