WGU D589 CHRONIC AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT V2 | 150 QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | HLTH
3600 | 2026 UPDATED
CORE DOMAINS
• Epidemiology and Public Health Foundations
• Pathophysiology of Chronic and Infectious Diseases
• Acute vs. Chronic Disease Classification
• Communicable vs. Noncommunicable Disease
• Prevention, Screening, and Health Promotion
• Chronic Disease Management and Self-Management Support
• Infectious Disease Transmission and Control
• Immunology, Vaccines, and Antimicrobial Therapy
• Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
• Global Health, Surveillance, and Outbreak Investigation
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive objective assessment is designed to evaluate the candidate's
mastery of chronic and infectious disease concepts essential for public health and
healthcare practice. It assesses foundational knowledge of epidemiology,
pathophysiology, disease classification, prevention strategies, and management
approaches. The exam employs multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to
test critical thinking, clinical judgment, and the application of evidence-based
practices. Emphasis is placed on real-world decision-making, population health,
regulatory compliance, and interprofessional collaboration. This assessment
prepares students for advanced practice and certification success.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–50
1. What is the definition of a disease?
A. A temporary feeling of illness
B. A condition of the living body that impairs normal function and is manifested
by distinguishing signs and symptoms
Correct answer
C. A condition caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: A disease is defined as a condition of the living body that impairs
normal function and is manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms. Option
A is too vague—a "feeling" does not constitute a disease. Option C is incorrect
because diseases can be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, and other agents.
Option D is false.
2. What is epidemiology?
A. The study of individual disease cases
B. The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in
specified populations
Correct answer
C. The study of hospital administration
D. The study of medication side effects
RATIONALE: Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of
health-related states in specified populations. It focuses on populations, not
individuals (A). Hospital administration (C) and medication side effects (D) are
separate fields.
3. What is etiology?
A. The study of disease transmission
B. The cause of the disease
Correct answer
C. The treatment of disease
D. The prevention of disease
, RATIONALE: Etiology refers specifically to the origin or cause of a disease.
Transmission (A), treatment (C), and prevention (D) are distinct concepts.
4. Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The origin of a disease
B. The mechanism by which a disease develops
Correct answer
C. The study of disease prevalence
D. The study of disease treatment
RATIONALE: Pathogenesis is the mechanism by which a disease develops.
Etiology (A) is the origin. Prevalence (C) and treatment (D) are separate concepts.
5. What is the key difference between acute and chronic disease?
A. Acute diseases are always infectious; chronic diseases are never infectious
B. Acute disease peak severity subsides within 3 months; chronic disease lasts
more than 3 months
Correct answer
C. Acute diseases have no symptoms; chronic diseases always have symptoms
D. There is no difference
RATIONALE: Acute disease peak severity occurs and subsides within 3 months
or sooner; recovery is complete. Chronic disease symptoms last more than 3
months; recovery is slow and incomplete. Both acute and chronic diseases can be
infectious or noninfectious.
6. Which of the following is an example of a chronic communicable disease?
A. Common cold
B. Influenza
C. AIDS
Correct answer
D. Chickenpox
RATIONALE: AIDS is a chronic communicable disease caused by HIV. Common
cold, influenza, and chickenpox are acute communicable diseases.
7. Which of the following is an example of an acute noncommunicable disease?
A. Diabetes
, B. Osteoarthritis
C. Appendicitis
Correct answer
D. Coronary heart disease
RATIONALE: Appendicitis is an acute noncommunicable disease. Diabetes,
osteoarthritis, and coronary heart disease are chronic noncommunicable
diseases.
8. What is a communicable disease?
A. A disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another
B. An infectious disease where biological agents/products are the cause and is
transmissible from one individual to another
Correct answer
C. A disease caused only by genetic factors
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: Communicable diseases are infectious diseases where biological
agents/products are the cause; they are transmissible from one individual to
another. Examples include COVID, syphilis, and AIDS. Noncommunicable diseases
(A, C) cannot be transmitted.
9. What is a noncommunicable disease?
A. A disease that can be transmitted from one person to another
B. A disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another and is harder
to find the cause because many factors contribute
Correct answer
C. A disease caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: Noncommunicable diseases cannot be transmitted from one
person to another. They are harder to find the cause because many factors
contribute, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Examples include heart
disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
10. What is the communicable period?
A. The time during which an infected individual can transmit the disease to others
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT V2 | 150 QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES | HLTH
3600 | 2026 UPDATED
CORE DOMAINS
• Epidemiology and Public Health Foundations
• Pathophysiology of Chronic and Infectious Diseases
• Acute vs. Chronic Disease Classification
• Communicable vs. Noncommunicable Disease
• Prevention, Screening, and Health Promotion
• Chronic Disease Management and Self-Management Support
• Infectious Disease Transmission and Control
• Immunology, Vaccines, and Antimicrobial Therapy
• Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
• Global Health, Surveillance, and Outbreak Investigation
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive objective assessment is designed to evaluate the candidate's
mastery of chronic and infectious disease concepts essential for public health and
healthcare practice. It assesses foundational knowledge of epidemiology,
pathophysiology, disease classification, prevention strategies, and management
approaches. The exam employs multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to
test critical thinking, clinical judgment, and the application of evidence-based
practices. Emphasis is placed on real-world decision-making, population health,
regulatory compliance, and interprofessional collaboration. This assessment
prepares students for advanced practice and certification success.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–50
1. What is the definition of a disease?
A. A temporary feeling of illness
B. A condition of the living body that impairs normal function and is manifested
by distinguishing signs and symptoms
Correct answer
C. A condition caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: A disease is defined as a condition of the living body that impairs
normal function and is manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms. Option
A is too vague—a "feeling" does not constitute a disease. Option C is incorrect
because diseases can be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, and other agents.
Option D is false.
2. What is epidemiology?
A. The study of individual disease cases
B. The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in
specified populations
Correct answer
C. The study of hospital administration
D. The study of medication side effects
RATIONALE: Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of
health-related states in specified populations. It focuses on populations, not
individuals (A). Hospital administration (C) and medication side effects (D) are
separate fields.
3. What is etiology?
A. The study of disease transmission
B. The cause of the disease
Correct answer
C. The treatment of disease
D. The prevention of disease
, RATIONALE: Etiology refers specifically to the origin or cause of a disease.
Transmission (A), treatment (C), and prevention (D) are distinct concepts.
4. Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The origin of a disease
B. The mechanism by which a disease develops
Correct answer
C. The study of disease prevalence
D. The study of disease treatment
RATIONALE: Pathogenesis is the mechanism by which a disease develops.
Etiology (A) is the origin. Prevalence (C) and treatment (D) are separate concepts.
5. What is the key difference between acute and chronic disease?
A. Acute diseases are always infectious; chronic diseases are never infectious
B. Acute disease peak severity subsides within 3 months; chronic disease lasts
more than 3 months
Correct answer
C. Acute diseases have no symptoms; chronic diseases always have symptoms
D. There is no difference
RATIONALE: Acute disease peak severity occurs and subsides within 3 months
or sooner; recovery is complete. Chronic disease symptoms last more than 3
months; recovery is slow and incomplete. Both acute and chronic diseases can be
infectious or noninfectious.
6. Which of the following is an example of a chronic communicable disease?
A. Common cold
B. Influenza
C. AIDS
Correct answer
D. Chickenpox
RATIONALE: AIDS is a chronic communicable disease caused by HIV. Common
cold, influenza, and chickenpox are acute communicable diseases.
7. Which of the following is an example of an acute noncommunicable disease?
A. Diabetes
, B. Osteoarthritis
C. Appendicitis
Correct answer
D. Coronary heart disease
RATIONALE: Appendicitis is an acute noncommunicable disease. Diabetes,
osteoarthritis, and coronary heart disease are chronic noncommunicable
diseases.
8. What is a communicable disease?
A. A disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another
B. An infectious disease where biological agents/products are the cause and is
transmissible from one individual to another
Correct answer
C. A disease caused only by genetic factors
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: Communicable diseases are infectious diseases where biological
agents/products are the cause; they are transmissible from one individual to
another. Examples include COVID, syphilis, and AIDS. Noncommunicable diseases
(A, C) cannot be transmitted.
9. What is a noncommunicable disease?
A. A disease that can be transmitted from one person to another
B. A disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another and is harder
to find the cause because many factors contribute
Correct answer
C. A disease caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
RATIONALE: Noncommunicable diseases cannot be transmitted from one
person to another. They are harder to find the cause because many factors
contribute, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Examples include heart
disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
10. What is the communicable period?
A. The time during which an infected individual can transmit the disease to others
