reinfection
Catching it again
Reinfection is becoming infected again after recovering from a previous infection, typically by the same pathogen.
The term gained wide currency during COVID-19 discussions: She tested positive again—her doctor confirmed it was a reinfection, not lingering virus.
Reinfection implies the immune system's protection has waned or the pathogen has changed enough to evade it.
Return to former illness
- reactivationRestoring to function
- reboundReturn after deflection
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
- resurgenceReturn after dormancy
reemergence · cycle · return · persistence · dormancy · latency · chronic · recurrent
Microscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
variant · strain · mutation · coronavirus · influenza · malaria · tuberculosis · herpes
State of being unprotected
- spreadTo distribute widely
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- contactCommunication or physical touch
- airborneTraveling through air
droplet · incubation · superspreader · reexposure · contamination
Indicators of disease
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- testingExamining to evaluate
- PCRDNA amplification technique
- feverElevated body temperature
hospitalization · treatment · antivirals · recovery · severity · mild · asymptomatic · symptomatic
Proteins targeting pathogens
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
T-cells · B-cells · neutralizing · seropositive · immunoglobulin · cytokines · protection · immunocompromised
Liability to influence
- riskPossibility of harm
- immunocompromisedReduced ability to fight infection
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- comorbiditySimultaneous presence of diseases
unvaccinated · diabetes · HIV-positive · chemotherapy · malnutrition · high-risk · predisposition
relapse
Return to former illness
- reactivationRestoring to function
- reboundReturn after deflection
- flare-upSudden recurrence of symptoms
resurgence · reemergence · cycle · return · persistence · dormancy · latency · chronic · recurrent · sequential
virus
Microscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
parasite · variant · strain · mutation · coronavirus · influenza · malaria · tuberculosis · herpes · hepatitis
exposure
State of being unprotected
airborne · droplet · incubation · superspreader · reexposure · contamination
symptoms
Indicators of disease
fever · hospitalization · treatment · antivirals · recovery · severity · mild · asymptomatic · symptomatic · prognosis
antibodies
Proteins targeting pathogens
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- immunizationProtective medical injection
resistance · T-cells · B-cells · neutralizing · seropositive · immunoglobulin · cytokines · protection · immunocompromised · breakthrough
susceptibility
Liability to influence
- riskPossibility of harm
- immunocompromisedReduced ability to fight infection
- elderlyAdvanced in age
comorbidity · unvaccinated · diabetes · HIV-positive · chemotherapy · malnutrition · high-risk · predisposition
- pandemiclockdowns, COVID-19, outbreak, epidemic, COVID
- COVID-19COVID-19, spike protein, mRNA vaccines, omicron, variants
- contagioncontagion, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, spreading
- diagnostic testsantigen test, blood test, PCR test, swab test, rapid test
reinfectionimmunity
Protected from harm
protection · disease resistance · clearance · recovery · cure