Basic Public Health Vocabualry
A field of science that studies health problems within populations
What is Epidemiology?
Contains, Spreads, or harbors an infectious organism
What is a Carrier?
The direct and immediate transfer of an infectious agent from one person to another
Preventing a disease or disorder before it happens
What is Primary Prevention?
Cases are consistently diagnosed, regardless of where or when they were identified and who diagnosed the case.
What is Case Definition?
Ongoing disease in a community or among a group of people.
What is Endemic?
Individual who has been exposed to a disease-causing organism (pathogen) and who has done so for some time.
What is active carrier?
An agent is transferred or carried by some intermediate item, organism resulting in disease
What is Indirect Transmission
Behavior changes on the part of the individual ex: exercising, stop smoking
What is Active Primary Prevention?
The first disease case in the population
What is Primary Case?
Illness or a health-related event in a community or region
What is Epidemic?
Individual who has been exposed or has a pathogen but doesn't ill or shown any symptoms
What is a healthy/passive carrier?
Droplets or dust particles carry the pathogen to the host and cause infection
What is Airborne Transmission?
Health screening and detection activities used to identify disease. *Early diagnosis
What is Secondary Prevention?
An individual or group who has all of the signs and symptoms of a disease or condition yet has not been diagnosed as having the disease.
What is Suspect Case?
Illness or disease affecting a country or continent
What is Pandemic?
Individual who harbors a pathogen but is in the recovery phase of the course of the disease
What is a Covalescent carrier?
The pathogen undergoes changes as part of its life cycle while in a host before being transferred to a new host
What is Biological Transmission?
Does not require behavior changes on the individual’s part. Ex: drinking or eating vitamins
What is Passive Primary Prevention?
People infected after a disease has been introduced into a population and who become infected from contact with the primary case
What is Secondary Case?
Victims of common-source epidemic have person-to-person contact with others and spread the disease.
What is Mixed Epidemic?
Individual who has been exposed to or carries a pathogen, and is in the beginning stages of the disease, is showing symptoms and can pass the disease
What is an incubatory carrier?
When a pathogen uses a host to spread. A mechanism for a ride for nourishment or part of a physical transfer
What is Mechanical Transmission?
Limiting any disabilities by providing rehabilitation when a disease has already occurred and caused damage.
What is Tertiary Prevention?
The first disease case brought to the attention of the epidemiologist
What is Index Case?