Which type of disease is caused by a pathogen and can be transmitted between individuals?

Which type of disease is caused by a pathogen and can be transmitted between individuals?

• A. Degenerative
• B. Neoplastic
• C. Metabolic
• D. Infectious

Answer: (D)

Infectious diseases are caused by a pathogen—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—and many of these illnesses can be transmitted from one person to another through direct contact, shared surfaces, droplets, or vectors. This combination of a pathogen-based cause and the ability to spread between individuals is what sets them apart. Degenerative diseases involve gradual deterioration and aging processes and aren’t typically spread between people. Neoplastic diseases are cancers characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, not by transmission. Metabolic diseases arise from problems in chemical processes within the body and are not defined by person-to-person spread.

Infectious diseases are caused by a pathogen—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites—and many of these illnesses can be transmitted from one person to another through direct contact, shared surfaces, droplets, or vectors. This combination of a pathogen-based cause and the ability to spread between individuals is what sets them apart. Degenerative diseases involve gradual deterioration and aging processes and aren’t typically spread between people. Neoplastic diseases are cancers characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, not by transmission. Metabolic diseases arise from problems in chemical processes within the body and are not defined by person-to-person spread.