HSC 4201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Rickettsia, Biological Agent, Protozoa
Document Summary
The public often classifies disease by organ/ organ system. Diseases are usually classified as: acute or chronic, communicable (infectious, noncommunicable (noninfectious) Communicable (infectious) diseases an illness caused by some specific biological agent or its toxic products that can be transmitted from an infected person, animal, or inanimate object to a susceptible host. Establishment of a communicable disease agent in a host organism is called an infection. Noncommunicable (noninfectious) diseases a disease that cannot be transmitted from infected host to susceptible host. More difficult to delineate the causes of these diseases. Contributing factors may be: genetic, environmental, behavioral in nature. Diseases are classified by their duration of symptoms. Acute disease the peak severity of symptoms occurs and subsides within 3 months (or sooner) and recovery of those who survive is usually complete. Acute communicable diseases common cold, influenza, chicken pox, measles, mumps, and plague.
