DISEASE CONTROL Flashcards
3 characteristics of a communicable disease
Infectious agent
Host
Environnement
In order to survive, an infectious agent must be able to
Multiply
Emerge from the host
Reach a new host
Infect the new host
Factors the affect immunity of the host
Age
Sex
Pregnancy
Trauma and fatigue
Here immunity
What is an endemic
When an infectious agent or disease has constant presence within a defined geographic area
Epidemic
Occurrence of infectious agent or host that clearly exceed the usual expected frequency of the disease in a particular population
Outbreak
Increase in number of diseases in excesss of what would normally be expected in a community, geographical area or season
Or
A single case or a communicable disease long absent from a population or caused by an agent not recognized in a population
Or
Emergence of a previously unknown disease
Pandemic
A global epidemic
Control
Reducing disease mortality, morbidity, incidence or prevalence to a locally acceptable level
What types of preventions are mostly used to achieve CONTROL
Primary and Secondary Prevention
Elimination
Reduction of disease or infection to zero in a defined geographical area
Examples of eliminated diseases
Neonatal tetanus
Examples of eliminated infections
Yaws
Poliomyelitis
Eradication
Reduction to zero of the incidence of infection worldwide
Example of an eradicated infection
Smallpox
How can control activities be delivered
Vertical programmes
Integrated
Combined
Core functions in disease prevention
Setting priorities
Detecting and reporting cases
Investigating outbreaks and confirming existence
Choosing a control strategy
Undertaking action
Assessing results of action
Criteria for prioritizing communicable diseases
Impact
Epidemic potential
Potential for prevention and control
International importance
The functional levels of disease prevention and control
Peripheral
Intermediate
Central
Roles performed at the peripheral level
Immunisation
Mass chemoprophylaxis/ chemotherapy
Safe water supply and sanitation
Food safety
Injection safety / stérilisation
Vector control
Case management
Role of intermediate level
Collect and analyse data
Investigate and follow up suspected outbreaks
Feed info back to peripheral level
Implement prevention and control activities through the peripheral level
Report to central level on suspected or confirmed outbreaks, surveillance control and achievements
Provide materials and technical support to peripheral level
Regular training of staff
Examples of intermediate level
District and Regional
Role of central level
Support intermediate level
Deal with outbreaks of national importance
Lisaise with WHO and other countries
Identify requirements and obtain assistance from international or bilateral sources
Provide feedback to intermediate and peripheral level
Three main methods of controlling a communicable disease
Eliminate reservoir
Interrupt pathway of transmission
Protect susceptible hosts
Types of reservoirs
Human reservoir
Zoonoses
Non living reservoirs
Methods of controlling diseases with a human reservoir
Isolation
Quarantine
Types of immunization
Passive
Active
Groups requiring immunization
Infants and children - immunization schedule
Pregnant women - prevention of maternal and neonatal tetanus
Adults and those over 50 - boosters esp tetanus
High risk groups eg anthrax
Special public health strategies for control or eradication eg smallpox, polio
Outbreak response immunization
Mechanism of distribution for mass drug distribution
House to house
Distribution booths
Special groups
Work place
Meeting lances
Clinics/ pharmacies