Chapter 16: Host-Microbe Interactions: Opportunistic pathogens + Classifications of Disease

Question 1

What are opportunistic pathogens? (2)

Answer 1

• Microbes that are part of the normal microbiota
• do not normally cause disease

Question 2

How can opportunistic pathogens cause disease? (3)

Answer 2

• transferred to another part of the body
• human host becomes immuno-compromised
• normal microbiota is disturbed

Question 3

Explain how E. Coli is an opportunistic pathogen (2)

Answer 3

• normal resident of the large intestine
• if transferred to the urinary tract, it can cause infection

Question 4

Explain of S. pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen (2)

Answer 4

• normal resident of the respiratory tract
• when host is already weakened (ex. after having a cold), it can cause pneumonia

Question 5

What are symptoms?

Answer 5

what a patient feels
ex. pain, malaise

Question 6

Symptom can be ___ and ____

Answer 6

subjective and variable

Question 7

What are signs?

Answer 7

• an objective change a physician can measure
  ex. lesions, swelling, fever, paralysis

Question 8

What is a syndrome?

Answer 8

• a specific group of symptoms and signs that always accompany a particular disease

Question 9

How can diseases be classified by? (2)

Answer 9

• based on effect of host and on population

Question 10

What is a communicable disease?

Answer 10

• a disease that spreads from one host to another
  ex. chicken pox, measles, gonorrhea

Question 11

What is a contagious disease?

Answer 11

• easily spread
  ex. chicken pox and measles

Question 12

What is a non-communicable disease?

Answer 12

• does not spread between people
  ex. salmonellosis, cancer

Question 13

In lecture, is rabies communicable or non-communicable?

Answer 13

• considered a communicable disease

Question 14

What are the 5 progressions of infectious disease?

Answer 14

• incubation period
• prodromal period
• period of illness
• period of decline
• period of convalescence

Question 15

What is the incubation period?

Answer 15

• time between infection and first signs or symptoms

Question 16

What is the prodromal period?

Answer 16

• early, mild symptoms
  ex. malaise

Question 17

What is the period of illness? (2)

Answer 17

• most severe signs and symptoms
• active immune response - may cause some signs and symptoms
  ex. fever

Question 18

What happens if you cannot overcome disease in the period of illness?

Answer 18

death

Question 19

What is the period of decline? (3)

Answer 19

• signs and symptoms subside
• can last hours or days
• patient vulnerable to secondary infections

Question 20

What is the period of convalescence? (3)

Answer 20

• recovery occurs
• the pathogen can still be present and spread to others
• can carry pathogen for months or years