Background Information Flashcards

Learn general background information about communicable diseases

1
Q

What is the largest cause of child deaths globally?

A

Globally, infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and malaria, along with pre-term birth complications, birth asphyxia and trauma and congenital anomalies remain the leading causes of death for children under 5.

In 2010 accounted for > 11 million deaths per year in LMICs.

https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/child-mortality-and-causes-of-death

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2
Q

What are the three main causes of communicable disease deaths in children and adolescents globally?

A

Enteric infections, lower-respiratory-tract infections and malaria accounted for 59·8% of the global communicable disease burden in children and adolescents, with tuberculosis and HIV both emerging as important causes during adolescence.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00860-7/fulltext

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3
Q

What are the 8 reasons for why communicable diseases are still a significant public health issue in high-income countries.

A
  1. **Globalisation **(rapid global spread e.g. COVID-19)
  2. Re-emergence of old scourges (e.g. TB, measles)
  3. Novel infections (e.g. SARS, COVID-19)
  4. Evolution of existing pathogens leading to new risks (e.g. zoonotic disease threats, pandemic influenzas)
  5. Resistance to therapeutic agents
  6. Hospital acquired infections (e.g. MRSA)
  7. Burden on long-term conditions (e.g. HIV/AIDS)
  8. **Viral cause of certain cancers **(e.g. cervical cancer)
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4
Q

Define: incubation period

A

Also called ‘subclinical period’. Time between infection and onset of symptoms. Duration may be affected by infecting dose.

Assists to determine when infection occurred and duration of follow-up or exclusion of contacts

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5
Q

Define: latent period

A

Time between infection and beginning of infectiousness.

Typically shorter than the incubation period i.e. meaning there is a period of subclinical infectiousness.

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6
Q

Define: infectious period

A

The period during which a case is infectious.

Useful to identify exposed contacts.

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7
Q

Reveal to see the image of the infectious, latent, incubation periods.

A

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Key-time-periods-of-COVID-19-infection-the-latent-or-exposed-period-before-the-onset-of_fig2_346194172

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8
Q

What is the mnemonic for CD outbreak framework?

A

Intro - BUPF

8 Cs
* Context - TCCRRRETM
* Convene - team, stakeholders
* Confirm - O>E, artefacts
* Case definition - tppl
* Collect data - case report form, active, epi
* Control - cases, contacts, community, env
* Communicate - CHO, media, case/contact
* Conclude - monitor, report, debrief

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9
Q

Which communicable diseases use Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)?

A

Anthrax - vaccine, ABx
Diphtheria - DTP + ABx
Measles - immunoglobulin, vaccination
HIV - HAART
Hep A - immunoglobulin, vaccination
Hep B - immunoglobulin, vaccination
iGAS - ABx
IMD - ABx
Pertussis - ABx
Plague - ABx
Rabies/lyssavirus - HRIG, vaccination
Tetanus - tetanus immunoglobulin, DTP vaccine
Varicella zoster - immunoglobulin, vaccination

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10
Q

What is required for the CMO to declare a CDINS?

A

A communicable disease threat or outbreak with the potention to:

  1. overwhelm capacity of affected jurisdiction to manage the incident
  2. affect multiple jurisductions
  3. scale/potential severy to require national coordination
  4. cause public concern
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11
Q

What is the national incident centre (NIC)?

A

Department of Health and Aged Care’s emergency response centre.

Coordinates national responses to health emergencies by organising response and recovery operations between:
* Australian Government, and S/T government health authorities
* other Commonwealth operations centres
* the international health community.

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12
Q

When is the NIC activated?

A

Activated by the CMO when a significant event or emerging threat is identified. E.g:

  • CD outreaks, such as pandemic
  • chemical, biological or radiological incidents
  • earthquakes or floods causing mass casualties
  • emergencies requiring deployment of Australian medical personnel

Examples of when activated: JEV 2022, Mpox 2022, COVID-19 pandemic, White Island volcano 2019, National bushfire crisis 2019, Measles outbreak Samoa 2019, QLD/VIC floods 2011, Tropical Cyclone Yasi 2011, Christchurch earthquake 2011, Pakistan floods 2010, Pacific tsunami 2009

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