Disease Detectives Flashcards
Epidemiology
The study of distribution and determinants of health-related states in specified populations, and the application of this to control health problems. There are four basic reasons for why disease detectives study and research outbreaks and epidemics. These reasons are: Control and Prevention, Research Opportunities, Training, and Legal Concerns.
Two Basic Types of Epidemiology:
Classical Epidemiology
Population oriented, studies community origins of health problems related to nutrition, environment, human behavior, and the psychological, social, and spiritual state of a population. The event is more aimed towards this type of epidemiology.
Note: There are all sorts of classification systems for epi and the above certainly are examples. One could add research epi vs applied epi to the above list. However probably the most fundamental and common system is Descriptive epi (e.g. person, place and time) vs Analytic epi (hypothesis testing - study design).
Clinical Epidemiology
Studies patients in health care settings in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and the prognosis for patients already affected by a disease. These can be further divided into:
Infectious Disease Epidemiology - heavily dependent on laboratory support
Chronic Disease Epidemiology - dependent on complex sampling and statistical methods
Note: There are all sorts of classification systems for epi and the above certainly are examples. One could add research epi vs applied epi to the above list. However probably the most fundamental and common system is Descriptive epi (e.g. person, place and time) vs Analytic epi (hypothesis testing - study design).
Epidemiology Terms:
Cluster
An aggregation of cases over a particular period closely grouped in time and space, regardless of whether the number is more than the expected number
Epidemiology Terms:
Endemic Disease
Present at a continuous level throughout a population/geographic area; constant presence of an agent/health condition within a given geographic area/population; refers to the usual prevalence of an agent/condition.
Epidemiology Terms:
Epidemic
Large numbers of people over a wide geographical area are affected.
Epidemiology Terms:
Etiology
Study of the cause of a disease.
Epidemiology Terms:
Fomite
A physical object that serves to transmit an infectious agent from person to person. An example of this is lice on a comb. The comb is the fomite and the lice are the agent that can make your hair itch.
Epidemiology Terms:
Latrogenic
An illness that is caused by a medication or physician.
Epidemiology Terms:
Incubation Period
Time in between when a person comes into contact with a pathogen and when they first show symptoms or signs of disease.
Epidemiology Terms:
Index Case
First patient in an epidemiological study (also known as patient zero or primary case).
Epidemiology Terms:
Morbidity
Rate of disease in a population.
Epidemiology Terms:
Mortality
Rate of death in a population.
Epidemiology Terms:
Outbreak
More cases of a particular disease than expected in a given area or among a specialized group of people over a particular period of time.
Epidemiology Terms:
Pandemic
An epidemic occurring over several countries or continents and affecting a large proportion of the population.
Epidemiology Terms:
Plague
A serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease that is usually transmitted to humans by the bites of rodent fleas. It was one of the scourges of our early history. There are three major forms of the disease: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.
Epidemiology Terms:
Nosocomial Disease
An infection that is acquired in a hospital.