Epidemiology

Front

Opportunistic Infection

Back

An infection that occurs when the body's immune system is weak, allowing normally harmless organisms to cause disease.

Front

Carrier

Back

An organism that holds or carries a pathogen but does not show any symptoms of the disease.

Front

Pathogen

Back

Any virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite that can cause a disease in a living thing.

Front

Portals of Entry/Exit

Back

Routes through which pathogens enter or exit the body, including the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes, and skin lesions.

Front

Infection

Back

The establishment of a disease-causing microorganism within a host.

Front

Endogenous Infection

Back

An infection caused by pathogens that are already present in the body, often due to a change in the host's immune status.

Front

Exogenous Infection

Back

An infection caused by pathogens that enter the body from an external source.

Front

Nosocomial Infection

Back

An infection acquired in a hospital or healthcare facility, often due to the presence of pathogens in that environment.

Front

Vector

Back

An organism, often an insect, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Front

Reservoir

Back

A natural habitat where a pathogen lives and multiplies, which can be humans, animals, or the environment.