Average human incubation period. What is the incubation period of viral or infectious diseases - definition and duration. Influence of additional factors
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INCUBATION PERIOD, incubation (from Latin incubo - at rest), is the period of time in infectious diseases from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first signs of the disease, the latent period of the disease. During the incubation period, microbes or their toxins accumulate and multiply in the body. The body immediately reacts to the introduction of microbes: the blood’s ability to neutralize microorganisms and their toxins increases (antibodies are formed), the functioning of the respiratory system, blood circulation, etc. changes. However, at first these reactions are so weakly expressed that they can only be detected through special laboratory tests. Only after a certain period of time, i.e. After the incubation period, the body's response is manifested by pronounced signs of the disease.
The duration of the incubation period in patients can vary within fairly wide limits. It depends on the state of the human body, his immunity, i.e. resistance to infection, on the number of pathogens, their virulence (pathogenic abilities), place of introduction of the microbe, etc. Preventive vaccinations against this disease can lengthen this period. The duration of the incubation period for different diseases is different, but is characteristic of each disease. For example, the incubation period for influenza ranges from several hours to three days; when infected with tetanus, the incubation period usually lasts 7–10 days, but in rare cases it can last up to a year; On average, food poisoning may not manifest itself in any way from 6 to 24 hours, but can be detected 2–3 hours after infection.
The length of the incubation period affects how quickly infectious diseases spread through the population: infectious diseases with a short incubation period can spread much faster than diseases with a long incubation period. Knowing the length of the incubation period for a particular disease is of great importance for diagnosis and identification of sources of infection. In some cases, even before the development of the disease picture (i.e. at the end of the incubation period), the patient already poses a danger to others, releasing pathogens into the external environment (for example, with mumps, whooping cough, measles, cholera, scarlet fever). In some diseases (malaria, lobar pneumonia), immediately after the incubation period, a pronounced picture of the disease develops (acute onset); in others (typhoid fever, measles), after the incubation period, a period of harbingers of the disease passes (prodromal period) and only then do characteristic signs of the disease appear.
These viruses affect the nasal mucous membranes. Infection occurs from an infectious person or household items. Viruses are not stable and die under the influence of high temperatures or special disinfectants.
Incubation period is 1-5 days. The stronger a person’s immunity, the longer this period. In children, the disease manifests itself more quickly.
Full recovery is observed within 7 days.
Incubation period of adenoviruses
Viruses affect: mucous membranes of the eyes, respiratory tract, intestines, bladder. A person becomes infected upon contact with a patient or a surface with which he came into contact.The latent period averages 2-5 days. Sometimes 1-14 days. In children, the immune system is weaker, so the disease manifests itself in the middle period.
The patient recovers completely within 2 weeks.
Incubation period of influenza
The virus affects the respiratory tract, and severe intoxication of the body occurs. The disease occurs when communicating with a sick person.It takes 1-5 days before the first symptoms of the disease appear. Sometimes this happens a couple of days longer. The disease begins abruptly with the appearance of a temperature of up to 40 degrees, migraines, chills and other symptoms. With an illness without complications, a person recovers in 10-12 days.
Incubation period of parainfluenza
The virus mainly affects the mucous membrane of the nose and larynx. Infection occurs through contact with a sick person. In the external environment, the virus dies instantly.The latent period ranges from 2 to 6 days. Complete recovery occurs 7-10 days after the first signs of the disease appear.
In all cases of infection caused by viruses, you can protect the body from the disease if you increase the body's defenses, eat right and get enough vitamins.
Incubation period I Incubation period (lat. incubo ,
incubare rest; synonym: incubation, )
Conventionally, the phases of adaptation, reproduction and dissemination of the pathogen are distinguished. In the first phase of the incubation period, the number of the pathogen decreases and the remaining microbial cells adapt to life in the macroorganism. In the multiplication phase, the number of microbial cells increases due to multiplication in the primary focus (skin, mucous membranes, regional lymph nodes). In the dissemination phase, the pathogen spreads from the primary focus by contact, lymphogenous or hematogenous routes. During IP, the formation of a primary lesion is observed, some physiological and biochemical indicators change, the body reacts to pathogen antigens, and the activation of nonspecific and specific protective mechanisms begins, but these processes are not accompanied by clinical symptoms and proceed latently. In a number of diseases, it begins in the bloodstream, as well as into the environment, and, located in the I. p., can become a source of pathogen for others. Thus, with viral hepatitis B it can accumulate in the blood 1-1 1/2 weeks before the first symptoms of the disease appear. Patients with mumps, rubella and some other infectious diseases are contagious to others in the last days of the incubation period. For each infectious disease, there are certain limits for the duration of I. p. There is an average, i.e. the most common for this disease, duration of I. p., minimum and maximum. for example, with botulism, the average duration of I. p. is 12-24 h, minimum - 1-2 h, maximum - 10 days. For various infectious diseases, the duration of I. p. varies within very wide limits - from several hours (with foodborne toxic infections) to 1 year (with rabies) and even many years (with leprosy). The duration of I. p. depends on the virulence of the pathogen strain, the infecting dose, the route and place of introduction of the pathogen into the body. for example, with rabies, I. p. is shorter for bites to the head and longer for bites to the distal extremities. In weakened individuals, the I. p. may decrease. Carrying out chemoprophylaxis (for malaria) or passive immunoprophylaxis (for measles) can lead to an extension of the incubation period. With helming infections, the duration of I. p. in some cases (with trichinosis, opisthorchiasis) can be established quite clearly, but in many cases this is difficult due to the possibility of a long asymptomatic course of the invasion (trichocephalosis, etc.). Data on the duration of I. p. are of great practical importance for determining the possible source of infection, the route and factor of transmission, determining the timing of observation and isolation of persons who had contact with patients. Bibliography: Kazantsev A.P. and Matkovsky V.S. Handbook of infectious diseases, M., 1986; Guide to Infectious Diseases, ed. IN AND. Pokrovsky and K.M. Lobana, M., 1986. in medicine - the period of time from the moment a person is infected until the first clinical signs of the disease appear.
1. Small medical encyclopedia. - M.: Medical encyclopedia. 1991-96 2. First aid. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia. 1994 3. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Medical Terms. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. - 1982-1984.
See what “Incubation period” is in other dictionaries:
Same as incubation in the second meaning. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. INCUBATION PERIOD Same as incubation in the second meaning. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that came into use in... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
INCUBATION PERIOD, the period of time from the moment of infection to the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. For many infectious diseases, the incubation period is quite short, from several hours to several days, although it can also be different.… … Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary
INCUBATION PERIOD- INCUBATION PERIOD, incubation (from the Latin incubare to lie down), designation of the period separating the moment of infection from the phase of the obvious reaction of the macroorganism. Since the discovery of carriage, indicating that one penetration of the microbe still... ... Great Medical Encyclopedia
- (from the Latin incubo, I rest here), the hidden period from the introduction of a pathogen into the body until the first signs of an infectious disease appear. With a number of diseases, patients are contagious already at the end of the incubation period... Modern encyclopedia
- (from Lat. incubo I rest here). the latent period from the moment the pathogen enters the body until the first signs of an infectious disease appear. With a number of diseases, patients are contagious already at the end of the incubation period... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
The length of time from the moment a microbial agent enters the body until the symptoms of the disease appear. Another name, the hidden or latent period of the disease, explains this term more clearly: a person is already infected, but the disease has not yet manifested itself... ... Wikipedia - The time interval between the penetration of the pathogen into the host’s body and the appearance of the first signs or symptoms of the disease. [English-Russian glossary of basic terms in vaccinology and immunization. World Health Organization, 2009... ... Technical Translator's Guide
- (from Latin incubo, I rest here), the hidden period from the moment the pathogen enters the body until the first signs of an infectious disease appear. With a number of diseases, patients are infectious already at the end of the incubation period. * * * INCUBATION… … encyclopedic Dictionary
Incubation period The time of development of caviar and eggs in a number of organisms (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects) until the moment of hatching. (
incubation period (lat. incubo, incubatum lie, rest; synonym: latent period, hidden period) in medicine
the period of time from the moment a person is infected until the first clinical signs of the disease appear.
Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998
incubation period
Incubation period
incubation (from Latin incubo, here ≈ at rest), latent period, the period of time from the moment of infection to the appearance of clinical symptoms of the disease. For each infectious disease, I. p. has a characteristic duration, although its duration can fluctuate depending on the number of microbes that have entered the body, their pathogenicity, the physical condition of the body itself (previous injuries-diseases, starvation, lack of vitamins), the place of penetration of the infection into organism. Vaccination, seroprophylaxis and chemotherapy prolong I. p.
Length of incubation period for some infectious diseases
Infectious disease
Length of incubation period (in days)
most common "average"
minimum
maximum
Rabies
3≈6 months (rarely up to a year)
Botulism
1 (rarely more)
Brucellosis
Typhoid fever
Chicken pox
few hours
Dysentery
Diphtheria
17 and 21 (with the introduction of serum)
31 (three days ≈ sometimes 7≈11 months)
Epidemic mumps (mumps)
Polio
Scarlet fever
few hours
Tetanus
40 (sometimes when removing fragments ≈ several years)
Typhus
Tularemia
Cerebrospinal meningitis epidemic
few hours
In some infectious diseases (measles, diphtheria, etc.), pathogens are released into the environment during infection, which leads to infection of other individuals. The duration of I. p. is important to identify the source of infection, and sometimes to establish a diagnosis.
Ya. O. Olshansky.
Wikipedia
Incubation period
Incubation period- the period of time from the moment a microbial agent enters the body until the symptoms of the disease appear. Another name - the latent or latent period of the disease - explains this term more clearly: a person is already infected, but the disease has not yet manifested itself.
The duration of the incubation period can vary from several hours and even minutes (foodborne illness) to tens of years (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). The length of the incubation period depends on the number of bacteria or viruses that have entered the body and their activity. During this period, the harm caused to the body by bacteria/viruses is unnoticeable due to their small number, but gradually the number of microbes increases and the immune system becomes unable to fight them, and then the disease manifests itself. As a rule, during the incubation period, a sick person is not contagious to others, but with some diseases (for example, Chickenpox), the release of microbes from saliva when coughing and sneezing begins 1-3 days before the onset of the disease. During the incubation period, it is almost always possible to detect the pathogen itself or antibodies to it in the body and begin treatment.
STDs are sexually transmitted diseases. After infection with any venereological disease, the patient begins an incubation period. At this time, the symptoms of the disease do not yet appear; the damage occurs in a latent form and is not dangerous for the patient’s sexual partner. The incubation period is determined after diagnosis, which provides information about the nature of the pathogen and determines further treatment options for the patient.
Sexually transmitted diseases or venereological diseases occur in an acute form, and then in a chronic form. After the incubation period, the patient begins to develop the first signs of the disease. This clinical picture is observed in acute lesions. Then the main symptoms pass and a chronic form sets in if the acute stage of the disease has not been cured.
Many sexually transmitted diseases quickly become chronic.
Some diseases occur with a small number of symptoms that are not pronounced. Afterwards, the symptoms may subside altogether, but this does not mean that the pathology has been cured. A latent course of the disease is common. After the incubation period, the disease is practically asymptomatic and immediately becomes chronic.
To prevent infection and detect it in the early stages in women, as well as men, it is advisable to visit a doctor as often as possible and undergo routine examination for STDs. This is especially true for people who often change sexual partners and are promiscuous, as well as those who do not use contraception.
People at risk should also undergo regular examinations. Among them:
- Drug addicts;
- Women engaged in prostitution;
- People who engage in same-sex sexual relations;
They are most susceptible to infections. At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor, even if the symptoms are mild or go away on their own. Most likely, the patient has moved to the next stage of the disease - chronic.
Length of incubation period
The incubation period can last from several days to 1-2 months. The incubation period depends on the causative agent of the infection. Microorganisms that provoke diseases have different abilities to enter the human body and carry out pathogenic activities in it.
The incubation period is individual for each person. It is worth noting that the duration is approximately the same for men and women. Consider the key sexually transmitted diseases, the duration of their incubation period, as well as the main symptoms.
Chlamydia
The first manifestations of this pathology, transmitted through sexual contact, are most often observed 2 weeks after infection. Sometimes the incubation period of STDs lasts a week, rarely several months. The symptoms of the disease are standard for a venereological disease: pain and discharge from the genitals with an unpleasant odor, itching and burning, as well as discomfort when urinating.
Ureaplasmosis
In terms of symptoms, the pathology is similar to the previous one. Discharge most often occurs from the urethra. The duration of the incubation period in most cases is a month.
This disease is also characterized by the presence of small discharge from the genitals. When urine comes out, the patient experiences discomfort and itching of the reproductive organs. As with the previous STD, the incubation period lasts about 30 days.
Gonorrhea
It has one of the shortest incubation periods among sexually transmitted diseases. After 5-7 days, the patient notices the first signs of a venereal disease. A distinctive feature of this pathology is yellow discharge from the genitals. In addition, the patient experiences pain when urinating.
Syphilis
A rather dangerous venereological disease, characterized by the appearance of formations in the form of ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs. They are formed in an acute form. Before it there is an incubation period, which usually lasts for 2-4 weeks.
As in the previous case, the disease is characterized by the formation of ulcers and blisters on the skin. Lymph nodes also become enlarged with this disease. The latent form can last up to 3 months before symptoms appear.
Trichomoniasis
Patients diagnosed with trichomoniasis experience the following symptoms: pain and discomfort when urinating. In men, the disease manifests itself especially acutely; they also experience white and sometimes bloody discharge. Women feel pain in the lower abdomen, and having sex causes discomfort. In women with this STD, urination is painful, and green discharge is visible. The incubation period for this pathology is quite wide, and in each individual case it is different: from 3 days to a month.
Genital herpes
The disease is characterized by the presence of a rash, which later turns into blisters. A high temperature is often observed. The incubation period is relatively short, it is several days.
After infection, the latent form lasts from 5 to 10 days. Symptoms: ulcers and red spots are observed on the skin of the genital organs.
Human papillomavirus
The peculiarity of this pathology is that blisters appear on the organs of the genitourinary system, which are localized on the skin and mucous membranes. The patient does not experience symptoms after infection for about three months. A feature of the pathology is a long incubation period compared to other sexually transmitted diseases.
Danger of STDs
The danger of sexually transmitted diseases is that pathogens, when spreading to the body, can affect not only the organs of the genitourinary system, but also affect other systems and disrupt the functioning of internal organs. If left untreated, pathologies can lead to infertility and other complications.
Any type of sexual interaction requires the use of protective equipment. This is the only way to protect yourself from the occurrence of pathologies and subsequent complications. The patient may not even be aware of sexually transmitted diseases, but may already be a carrier of the pathology. You need to be vigilant, take your choice of a sexual partner more seriously, and regularly check for sexually transmitted diseases with a doctor.
Even if casual sexual intercourse without condoms did not cause infection with venereological pathology and did not cause any symptoms of at least one of the listed sexually transmitted diseases, this does not guarantee complete safety.
It is possible that a person has become infected but is still going through the incubation period. To make sure that there is no disease, it is better to immediately check yourself for sexually transmitted diseases immediately after casual sexual contact. Only timely detection and timely treatment can quickly lead a person to recovery.