index case
1
6.7
- noun
- /ˈɪndɛks keɪs/
- Specialized
:
caso índice
- The researchers identified the index case, which helped them track the outbreak more effectively.
- index case-patient
- reported index case
- index case is reported
Which is the index case for Alzheimer's disease.
- Which is the index case for Alzheimer's disease.
Examples
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Interventions applied only to index cases are rather inefficient, even with the swiftest reporting.
Academic text (2015) -
On day 5 of the illness of the index case-patient, a contact investigation was initiated.
Academic text (2013) -
You often have an index case or a pro band, meaning the person who comes to clinical attention.
-
Which is the index case for Alzheimer's disease.
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When interventions are also applied to secondary cases produced by a reported index case, the interventions become more effective.
Academic text (2015) -
High concentrations of SARS-CoV were found in the feces and urine of the person with the index case.
Academic text (2006) -
Prophylaxis should ideally be given within 24 hours of the index case presentation and is supplied by the admitting hospital.
Academic text (2014) -
The index case-patient had fever, cough, dyspnea, and diarrhea that progressed over 2 days, leading to hospital admission.
Academic text (2013) -
The index case-patient was a 49-year-old HIV-positive man for whom smear-positive (2+), culture-positive pulmonary TB was diagnosed.
Academic text (2015) -
After studying the index case, the team was able to understand how the disease spread.
Synonyms
3
7.0
First known person infected in an outbreak who may spread the disease to others
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituents 'index' (an indicator) and 'case' (a person/instance in a study) give a partial clue that this is a marked or notable case, but the specific sense 'earliest documented case' is a specialized, domain-specific use of 'index' that is not directly inferable by a B1 learner from the literal meanings. While some learners might guess it refers to an important or identified case, understanding that it denotes the first/initial case usually requires prior exposure or medical context, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The term index case comes from the idea of index as a 'pointer' or the 'first item in a list' and case as a 'person with a disease'. The index case is the first known patient who points to where an outbreak began, so finding them helps trace the source and stop the disease from spreading.