Glossary

Mortality rate in a specific age group.

A fine spray or mist. Medications in aerosol form can be administered via a nebulizer

and inhaled.

A pharmacological and/or immunological agent that modifies the effect of other agents.

Adjuvants may be added to vaccines to modify the immune response by boosting it so

it produces a higher amount of antibodies and confers longer lasting protection, thus

minimizing the amount of injected foreign material. Adjuvants may also be used to

enhance the efficacy of vaccines by helping to subvert the immune response to

particular cell types of the immune system, for example by activating the T cell

response.

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a

broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast is a long-developing

syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis, a chronic

condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition. An acute asthma attack

occurs in the midst of the chronic disease of asthma. Acute conditions, such as a first

asthma attack, may lead to a chronic syndrome if untreated. (1)

(1) NIH Medline Plus: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions