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Definition of Terms Used in Case Classification
- Clinically compatible case
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A clinical syndrome generally compatible with the
disease, as described in the clinical description.
- Confirmed case
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A case that is classified as confirmed for reporting
purposes.
- Epidemiologically linked case
-
A case in which a) the patient has had contact with
one or more persons who either have/had the disease or have been
exposed to a point source of infection (i.e., a single source of
infection, such as an event leading to a foodborne-disease outbreak,
to which all confirmed case-patients were exposed) and b) transmission
of the agent by the usual modes of transmission is plausible. A
case may be considered epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed
case if at least one case in the chain of transmission is laboratory
confirmed.
- Laboratory-confirmed case
-
A case that is confirmed by one or more of the laboratory
methods listed in the case definition under Laboratory Criteria
for Diagnosis. Although other laboratory methods can be used in
clinical diagnosis, only those listed are accepted as laboratory
confirmation for national reporting purposes.
- Probable case
-
A case that is classified as probable for reporting
purposes.
- Supportive or presumptive laboratory results
-
Specified laboratory results that are consistent
with the diagnosis, yet do not meet the criteria for laboratory
confirmation.
- Suspected case
-
A case that is classified as suspected for reporting
purposes.
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