2.5f Challenges in treatment and control

Question 1

Epidemiology definition

Answer 1

Epidemiology is the study of the outbreak and spread of infectious disease.

Question 2

Herd immunity definition

Answer 2

The resistance to the spread of a contagious disease that results in a sufficiently high proportion of individuals which are immune to disease.

Question 3

Herd Immunity threshold

Answer 3

The herd immunity threshold is the density of resistant hosts in a population required to prevent an epidemic.

Question 4

Vaccines

Answer 4

Vaccines contain antigens that will elicit an immune response.

Antigenic variation has to be reflected in the design of vaccines.

Question 5

Host and parasite metabolism

Answer 5

The similarities between host and parasite metabolism makes it difficult to find drug compounds that only target the parasite.

Question 6

when do challenges arise

Answer 6

Challenges arise where the parasites spread most rapidly as a result of overcrowding or tropical climates. Overcrowding can occur in refugee camps that results from war or natural disasters or rapidly growing cities in LEDCs.

These conditions make coordinated treatment and control programs difficult to achieve.

Question 7

Control strategies

Answer 7

Civil engineering projects to improve sanitation combined with coordinated vector control may often be the only practical control strategies.

Question 8

Improvements

Answer 8

Improvements in parasite control reduce child mortality and result in population wide improvements in child development and intelligence, as individuals have more resources for growth and development.