Sporadic disease

Definition

A sporadic disease is an illness that occurs infrequently and irregularly within a population. These diseases are not consistently present in any particular geographic area or group.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sporadic diseases do not have predictable patterns or regular occurrences.
2. They can arise due to random exposure to pathogens, genetic mutations, or environmental factors.
3. Epidemiologists monitor sporadic diseases to identify potential outbreaks and sources of contamination.
4. Examples include illnesses like tetanus and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
5. Sporadic disease cases can sometimes provide insights into new emerging pathogens.

Review Questions

Related terms

endemic disease:

A disease that is constantly present at a baseline level in a population.

epidemic: A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

pandemic:

An epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents, usually affecting many people.