Which term describes a disease that is constantly present in a population?

Which term describes a disease that is constantly present in a population?

• A. Endemic
• B. Epidemic
• C. Pandemic
• D. Sporadic

Answer: (A)

Endemic indicates a disease that is constantly present in a population or geographic area, maintaining a steady baseline level of cases over time. This contrasts with an epidemic, which is a sudden surge above the expected number of cases, a pandemic, which spreads across large regions or continents, and sporadic occurrences, where cases appear irregularly without sustained transmission. For example, malaria is endemic in certain tropical areas, meaning it's consistently present there, while seasonal influenza can cause epidemics, and occasional rare-disease cases may occur sporadically.

Endemic indicates a disease that is constantly present in a population or geographic area, maintaining a steady baseline level of cases over time. This contrasts with an epidemic, which is a sudden surge above the expected number of cases, a pandemic, which spreads across large regions or continents, and sporadic occurrences, where cases appear irregularly without sustained transmission. For example, malaria is endemic in certain tropical areas, meaning it's consistently present there, while seasonal influenza can cause epidemics, and occasional rare-disease cases may occur sporadically.