Public Health & Safety Glossary

Diagnosis is the name a health professional gives to a health problem after evaluating evidence, not a guess from one symptom alone.

Vaccines train immune defenses without requiring the danger of a full infection from the disease itself.

It uses cells, tissues, organs, antibodies, and chemical signals to recognize threats and coordinate a response.

Inflammation can help protect and repair tissue, but long-lasting or excessive inflammation can also contribute to health problems.

Prognosis is not a guarantee. It is a medical estimate shaped by diagnosis, severity, treatment response, overall health, and other factors.

Antibodies help the body identify and respond to specific targets, but their meaning depends on the test and medical context.