Nursing Care of the Child with an Infectious Disorder
Terms 1. Catarrhal Stage - inflammation of the nose and throat during infectious diseases 2. Chain of infection - method by which organisms are spread and enter a new individual to cause disease 3. Complement - a special body protein that is capable of lysing cells; compromised of 20 different proteins that are normally nonfunctional molecules but become active with the immune response 4. Convalescent period - interval between when infectious symptoms begin to fade and the child returns to full wellness 5. Enanthem - rash on the mucous membrane 6. Exanthem - a skin rash 7. Exotoxin - poison produced by some bacteria 8. Fomites - inanimate objects, such as soil, food, water, bedding, towels, combs, or drinking glasses that provide a means of infection transmission 9. Incubation period - time between the invasion of an organism and the onset of symptoms of infection 10. Interferon - a protein that protects against viruses 11. Koplik’s spots -small irregular bright red spots with a blue-white center point, appearing on the buccal membrane with measles 12. Means of transmission - method of spread of pathogens that cause infectious disease 13. Portal of entry - means by which a pathogen can enter a person’s body 14. Portal of exit - method by which organisms leave an infected person’s body to be spread to others 15. Prodromal period - a time between the beginning of non-specific symptoms and specific infectious symptoms 16. Reservoir - container or place in which organisms grow and reproduce 17. Septicemia - pathogenic organisms in the blood stream 18. Susceptible host - individuals more prone to infection than others 19. Toxoid - extract of a toxin with reduced virulence