Infectious
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Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases (pronounced: /ɪnˈfɛkʃəs dɪˈziːz/), also known as communicable diseases or transmissible diseases, are illnesses caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi — that enter the body, multiply, and cause an infection.
Etymology
The term "infectious" comes from the Latin word 'infectus', meaning 'to taint or corrupt'. The term "disease" comes from the Old French 'desaise', meaning 'lack of ease'.
Related Terms
- Epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
- Pandemic: An epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.
- Endemic: A disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
- Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
- Immunity: The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
- Vaccine: A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Infectious
- Wikipedia's article - Infectious
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