# Host factor

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_factor
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'''Host factor '''(sometimes known as [risk factor](/source/risk_factor))<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=Principles of Epidemiology {{!}} Lesson 1 - Section 8 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section8.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=www.cdc.gov |language=en-us}}</ref> is a [medical](/source/medicine) term referring to the traits of an individual person or animal that affect susceptibility to [disease](/source/disease), especially in comparison to other individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Host factors |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Host+factors |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=TheFreeDictionary.com}}</ref> The term arose in the context of [infectious disease](/source/infectious_disease) research, in contrast to "organism factors", such as the [virulence](/source/virulence) and infectivity of a microbe. Host factors that may vary in a population and affect disease susceptibility can be innate or acquired.

Some examples: <ref name=":0" />
*general health
*psychological characteristics and attitude
*[nutrition](/source/nutrition)al state
*social ties
*previous exposure to the organism or related [antigen](/source/antigen)s
*[haplotype](/source/haplotype) or other specific genetic differences of immune function
*[substance abuse](/source/substance_abuse)
*[race](/source/Race_(classification_of_human_beings))

The term is now used in [oncology](/source/oncology) and many other medical contexts related to individual differences of disease vulnerability.

== See also ==
* [Vulnerability index](/source/Vulnerability_index)
* [Epidemiology](/source/Epidemiology)
* [Immunology](/source/Immunology)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Host Factor}}
Category:Animal diseases
Category:Medical terminology

{{med-diagnostic-stub}}

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