Disease Vocabulary

An infectious agent of small size that can only reproduce in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria.

• virus

• bacteria

• pathogen

• antigen

Microscopic living organisms that can be found everywhere. They can cause infection or be beneficial.

• bacteria

• virus

• pathogen

• antigen

“germs” tiny living things that cause infectious diseases. Include viruses, bacteria, fungi.

• pathogen

• antigen

• virus

• bacteria

Any substance that causes the body to make an immune response against that substance.

• antigen

• pathogen

• virus

• bacteria

A process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination.

• immunization

• vaccine

• pandemic

• antigen

A preparation that is used to simulate the body’s response against diseases. Usually injected.

• vaccine

• antigen

• immunization

• pandemic

A disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population or region.

• epidemic

• pandemic

• contagious disease

• infectious disease

An epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents.

• pandemic

• epidemic

• contagious disease

• infectious disease

A disease that is transmitted by contact with an infected individual or infected bodily fluids.

• contagious disease

• infectious disease

• pandemic

• epidemic

Disorders caused by organisms. May or may not be passed from person to person.

• infectious disease

• contagious disease

• pandemic

• epidemic