NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023

NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023
Disease that can be transmitted from one
MICROBES against HUMAN human being to another or from an animal
to human by direct or indirect contact. Any
Definition:
disease caused by growth of pathogenic
 Symptoms microorganism in the body.

- evidence of disease that is experienced or
perceived (subjective)

- subjective changes in body function noted by
patient but not apparent to an observer

 Signs

- objective evidence of a disease the physician
can observe and measure

 Syndrome

- a specific group of signs and symptoms that
accompany a particular disease

 Incidence

- the number of people in a population who
develop a disease during a particular time
period

 Prevalence

- the number of people in a population who
develop a disease, regardless of when it
appeared refers to both old and new cases

Classification of Infectious Disease

 Based on Behavior within host

Communicable Disease
Any disease that spreads from one host to
another, either directly or indirectly. A disease
that may be transmitted directly or indirectly
from one individual to another.

Infectious Disease

NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023

, NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023
Contagious Disease Causative agent remains inactive for a time but
Disease that easily spreads from one person to then becomes active to produce symptoms of
another the disease
i.e. chickenpox → shingles (zoster)
Non Communicable Disease
Not spread from one host/person to another

 Based on Occurrence of Disease

Sporadic Disease
Disease occurs only occasionally
i.e. botulism, tetanus

Endemic Disease
Constantly present in a population, country or
community
i.e. Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Epidemic Disease
Acquire disease in a relatively short period greater
than normal number of cases in an area within a
short period of time

Pandemic Disease
Epidemic disease that occurs worldwide
i.e. HIV infection

 Based on Severity or Duration of Disease

Acute Disease
Develops rapidly (rapid onset) but lasts only a
short time
i.e. measles, mumps, influenza

Chronic Disease
Develops more slowly (insidious onset) disease
likely to be continual or recurrent for long periods
i.e. TB, Leprosy

Subacute Disease
Intermediate between acute and chronic
i.e. bacterial endocarditis

Latent Disease

NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023

, NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023
 Based on Extent of Affected Host’s Body
 Susceptible host
Local Infection

microbes invade a relatively small area of the

body

Generalized (Systemic) Infection

spread throughout the body by blood or lymph

i.e. measles

Focal Infection

local infection that spread but are confined to

specific areas of the body

 Based on State of Host Resistance

Primary Infection

acute infection that causes the initial illness

Secondary Infection

one caused by an opportunistic pathogen after

primary infection has weakened the body’s

defenses

Subclinical (Inapparent Infection)

does not cause any noticeable illness

Factors in Disease Development (Chain of Infection)

 Source of infection (the pathogen)

 Reservoir

 Portal of exit

 Mode of transmission

 Portal of entry
NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023

, NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023
Stages of Disease
1. Direct Transmission
 Incubation Period
usually associated with signs and symptoms
time interval between the initial infection and

the 1st appearance of any s/sx

 Prodromal Period

early, mild symptoms of disease

 Period of Illness

overt s/sx of disease

WBC may increase or decrease

can result to death if immune response or

medical intervention fails

 Period of Decline

s/sx subside

vulnerable to secondary infection

 Period of Convalescence

regains strength and the body returns to

its pre diseased state

recovery has occurred

CHAIN OF INFECTION TRANSMISSION

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DISEASE TRANSMISSION

Reservoirs of Infection

any site where the pathogen can multiply or

merely survive until it is transferred to the host

 Human Reservoir

principal living reservoir of human disease

NURS 201 BEST EXAM GUIDE|COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTIOUS
DISEASES LATEST UPDATE 2022/2023