Infection Terms- Chapter 15

Acute disease- a disease that develops rapidly and only lasts for a short time.

Chronic disease – a disease that develops slowly, with less significant reaction (lower
grade disease), and tends to last for a long time. (patient may have lower grade
symptoms for a long time).

Latent disease – a disease in which the causative agent (etiologic agent) causes an
infection, then appears to go away, but remains inactive in the body for a long time
before the disease symptoms re-appear.

Localized infection – the infection that is causing the disease is limited to a certain
(small) part of the body (only one of the body’s systems is actually infected by the
organism). Symptoms may or may not be limited to that location.

Generalized (systemic) infection – the infection that is causing the disease has spread
throughout the body via the blood or lymph.

Septicemia – the growth of bacteria in the blood, diagnosed with blood cultures.

Primary infection- an acute infection that causes an initial disease.

Secondary infection – usually caused by an opportunistic pathogen after the primary

infection has weakened the host’s immune system.

Subclinical infection- is an infection where no symptoms are present, but the organism
may potentially be transmitted to others. If the person is a source of infection, but is not
obviously ill, they are called a “carrier”.

Incubation period – the period of time between when the infection begins and when the
first symptoms are apparent. Many diseases are contagious during this period.