L4.5: Levels of Disease

Cards (9)

  • Sporadic Disease
    ● Scattered about
    ○ A disease that occurs infrequently and irregularly
    ● Separated widely in time and place that they show no or little connection with each other
    ● Could be the starting point of an epidemic
  • Endemic Disease
    ● The constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease within a geographical area
    ● In one area
    ● Greek Words
    ○ En = in
    ○ Demos = people
    Usual or expected frequency of disease within a population
  • Hyperendemic Disease
    ● Refers to persistent, high levels of disease occurrence
    ● Disease is constantly present at high incidence and/or prevalence rate
    ○ Affects all age groups equally since amount rises above expected level
    Holoendemic Disease - expresses a high level of infection beginning early in life
    ○ Affects most of child population
  • Epidemic Disease
    ● Refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected
    ● Greek words
    ○ Epi = upon
    ○ Demos = people
    ● Involves unusual occurrence in the community of disease
    ○ Clearly in excess of expected occurrence
  • Disease Outbreak
    ● Carries the same definition of epidemic but is often used for a more limited geographical area
  • Disease Cluster
    ● Refers to an aggregation of cases grouped in place and time
    ○ Are suspected to be greater than the number expected
  • Pandemic Disease
    ● Refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents
    ● Usually affecting a large number of people of a large portion in the population
    Exotic Disease – diseases which are imported into a country in which they do not otherwise occur
  • FACTORS AFFECTING INCREASE OF CASES
    ● Recent increase in amount or virulence of agent
    ● The recent introduction of the agent into a setting where it has not been before
    ● An enhanced mode of transmission so that more susceptible persons are exposed
  • FACTORS AFFECTING INCREASE OF CASES
    ● A change in susceptibility of the host response to the agent
    ● Factors that increase host exposure or involve introduction through new portals of entry