Glossary
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antibody
(AN-tih-bah-dee)
An antibody is a protein made by your cells in your immune system. Antibodies fight invading germs.
disease
(dih-ZEEZ)
A condition that causes harm to the health of a person, animal, or plant.
pneumonia
(nuh-MOHN-yuh)
Pneumonia is a disease that causes a person’s lungs to fill with fluid. A person with pneumonia often has a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
vaccine
(vak-SEEN)
A vaccine is a weakened or dead form of a disease that is swallowed or injected into a person. This causes their body to fight the germs, and gives them the antibodies to fight that disease’s germs if the body comes in contact with them again.
virus
(VY-russ)
A virus is a very tiny germ that causes diseases. A virus can only be seen with a special kind of microscope.
immune system
(ih-MYOON SIS-tum)
Your immune system is a collection of proteins, cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect your body from germs and infections.
contagious
(kun-TAY-juss)
When something is contagious, it spreads easily from person to person.
coronaviruses
(kah-ROHN-uh-VY-ruh-sez)
A coronavirus can infect animals and humans. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus.
infect
(in-FEKT)
To infect is to cause disease by introducing a virus.
vaccines
(vak-SEENZ)
A vaccine is a weakened or dead form of a disease that is swallowed or injected into a person. This causes their body to fight the germs, and gives them the ability to fight that disease’s germs if the body comes in contact with them again.
ambulance
(AM-byoo-lenss)
An ambulance is a specialized vehicle that is used to carry sick or very injured people to the hospital.
essential
(ih-SEN-chull)
Something that is essential is very important. Some types of workers are essential.
paramedic
(payr-uh-MED-ik)
A paramedic is a specially trained person who helps sick or injured people before and while they are being taken to the hospital.
quarantine
(KWOR-un-teen)
To be in quarantine is to stay away from others to avoid spreading illness.
epidemic
(ep-ih-DEM-ik)
An epidemic is when an unusually large number of people in one geographic area catch a virus.
outbreak
(OWT-brayk)
An outbreak of a disease is when the number of people coming down with it starts to climb.
pandemic
(pan-DEM-ik)
A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread all over the world.
climate change
(KLY-mut CHAYNJ)
Climate change is the change in an area's normal climate conditions (such as rain and temperature) over a long period of time.
economy
(ih-KON-uh-mee)
A country's economy is the way it runs its businesses, trade, and finances.
Great Depression
(GRAYT dih-PRESH-un)
The Great Depression was a time in the 1930s when the economy was greatly troubled. Many people were out of work, hungry, and homeless.