,
, WGU D589 Chronic and Infectious Diseases Objective
Assessment V1 | 150 Questions and Correct Answers
with Rationales | HLTH 3600 | 2026 Updated .
Domain 1: Fundamental Concepts of Disease (Questions 1–25)
Question 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
C. A condition caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
Correct Answer: B. A condition of the living body that impairs normal function and is manifested
by distinguishing signs and symptoms.
Rationale: This is the standard definition of disease, encompassing any condition that disrupts
normal bodily function and presents with identifiable signs and symptoms.
Question 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
C. The study of hospital administration
D. The study of medication side effects
Correct Answer: B. The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in
specified populations.
Rationale: Epidemiology focuses on populations rather than individuals, examining patterns,
causes, and effects of health conditions.
Question 3: What is etiology?
A. The study of disease transmission
B. The cause of the disease
C. The treatment of disease
D. The prevention of disease
Correct Answer: B. The cause of the disease.
, Rationale: Etiology refers specifically to the origin or cause of a disease.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The origin of a disease
B. The mechanism by which a disease develops
C. The study of disease prevalence
D. The treatment of a disease
Correct Answer: B. The mechanism by which a disease develops.
Rationale: Pathogenesis describes the biological mechanism(s) that lead to the development of
a disease, distinguishing it from etiology (cause) and pathology (structural changes).
Question 5: What is the difference between signs and symptoms?
A. Signs are subjective; symptoms are objective
B. Signs are objective and observable; symptoms are subjective and experienced by the patient
C. There is no difference
D. Signs are only measured by laboratory tests
Correct Answer: B. Signs are objective and observable; symptoms are subjective and
experienced by the patient.
Rationale: Signs are measurable indicators (e.g., fever, rash), while symptoms are what the
patient reports (e.g., pain, fatigue).
Question 6: What is the definition of incidence?
A. The total number of existing cases of a disease at a specific time
B. The number of new cases of a disease in a population over a specified period
C. The number of deaths from a disease
D. The severity of a disease
Correct Answer: B. The number of new cases of a disease in a population over a specified
period.
Rationale: Incidence measures the rate of new occurrences, while prevalence measures all
existing cases.
Question 7: What is the definition of prevalence?
A. The number of new cases of a disease
B. The total number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a specific time
C. The number of deaths from a disease
D. The rate of recovery from a disease
, WGU D589 Chronic and Infectious Diseases Objective
Assessment V1 | 150 Questions and Correct Answers
with Rationales | HLTH 3600 | 2026 Updated .
Domain 1: Fundamental Concepts of Disease (Questions 1–25)
Question 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
C. A condition caused only by bacteria
D. A disease that only affects animals
Correct Answer: B. A condition of the living body that impairs normal function and is manifested
by distinguishing signs and symptoms.
Rationale: This is the standard definition of disease, encompassing any condition that disrupts
normal bodily function and presents with identifiable signs and symptoms.
Question 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
C. The study of hospital administration
D. The study of medication side effects
Correct Answer: B. The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states in
specified populations.
Rationale: Epidemiology focuses on populations rather than individuals, examining patterns,
causes, and effects of health conditions.
Question 3: What is etiology?
A. The study of disease transmission
B. The cause of the disease
C. The treatment of disease
D. The prevention of disease
Correct Answer: B. The cause of the disease.
, Rationale: Etiology refers specifically to the origin or cause of a disease.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the term "pathogenesis"?
A. The origin of a disease
B. The mechanism by which a disease develops
C. The study of disease prevalence
D. The treatment of a disease
Correct Answer: B. The mechanism by which a disease develops.
Rationale: Pathogenesis describes the biological mechanism(s) that lead to the development of
a disease, distinguishing it from etiology (cause) and pathology (structural changes).
Question 5: What is the difference between signs and symptoms?
A. Signs are subjective; symptoms are objective
B. Signs are objective and observable; symptoms are subjective and experienced by the patient
C. There is no difference
D. Signs are only measured by laboratory tests
Correct Answer: B. Signs are objective and observable; symptoms are subjective and
experienced by the patient.
Rationale: Signs are measurable indicators (e.g., fever, rash), while symptoms are what the
patient reports (e.g., pain, fatigue).
Question 6: What is the definition of incidence?
A. The total number of existing cases of a disease at a specific time
B. The number of new cases of a disease in a population over a specified period
C. The number of deaths from a disease
D. The severity of a disease
Correct Answer: B. The number of new cases of a disease in a population over a specified
period.
Rationale: Incidence measures the rate of new occurrences, while prevalence measures all
existing cases.
Question 7: What is the definition of prevalence?
A. The number of new cases of a disease
B. The total number of existing cases of a disease in a population at a specific time
C. The number of deaths from a disease
D. The rate of recovery from a disease
