Definition of Sporadic
Sporadic: Occurring upon occasion or in a scattered,
isolated or seemingly random way.
A disorder that is sporadic is by definition neither an endemic,
an epidemic, nor a pandemic:
- An endemic is present in a community at all
times but in low frequency. An endemic is continuous, as in
the case of malaria in some areas of the world or as with illicit
drugs in certain neighborhoods.
- An epidemic involves more than the expected number of
cases of disease occurring in a community or region during a given
period of time. An epidemic is typically a sudden severe outbreak
within a region or a group as, for example, AIDS in intravenous drug
users.
- A pandemic is an epidemic that becomes very widespread and
affects a whole region, a continent, or
the world. For example, AIDS is now pandemic in Africa.
"Sporadic" is from the Greek ""sporadikos" meaning
"scattered."
Source:
MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9723
Last Editorial Review: 6/27/1999 7:36:00 PM
Drug Medical Dictionary of Terms by Letter