Diseases that are always present in a community, usually at a low, constant frequency are described as having which pattern?

Diseases that are always present in a community, usually at a low, constant frequency are described as having which pattern?

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

Answer: (B)

Endemic means a disease is always present in a community at a relatively constant, low level. The number of new cases stays fairly steady over time, with possible seasonal ups and downs, but without the large, unpredictable surges that define outbreaks. This is different from an epidemic, where cases rise above what’s normally expected in a population for a period. It also differs from a pandemic, which describes a disease spreading across many countries or continents. And it’s not sporadic, which refers to cases appearing irregularly and infrequently without a predictable pattern. An example is malaria in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where transmission remains persistent year after year at a relatively stable level.

Endemic means a disease is always present in a community at a relatively constant, low level. The number of new cases stays fairly steady over time, with possible seasonal ups and downs, but without the large, unpredictable surges that define outbreaks. This is different from an epidemic, where cases rise above what’s normally expected in a population for a period. It also differs from a pandemic, which describes a disease spreading across many countries or continents. And it’s not sporadic, which refers to cases appearing irregularly and infrequently without a predictable pattern. An example is malaria in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where transmission remains persistent year after year at a relatively stable level.