EPI Flashcards
is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.
epidemiology
is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems.
epidemiology
is the relationship between a disease and its cause.
disease causation
is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal or plant especially one that has a known cause and a distinctive group of symptoms, signs, or anatomical changes.
disease
three esential components
host, agent, environment
microbe that causes the disease
agent
organism harboring the disease
host
those external factors that causes or allow disease transmission
environment
exists when there are more cases of a particular disease than expected in a given area, or among a specific group of people, over a particular period of time, the disease doesn’t necessarily to be contagious like; West Nile Fever and the rapid increase in obesity rates
epidemics
when a population has a high level of disease all the time or when it is consistently present but limited to a particular region. This makes the disease spread and rates predictable.
endemic
when a disease’s growth is exponential. This means the growth rate skyrockets, and each day cases grow more that the day prior. In being declared a pandemic, the virus has nothing to do with virology, population immunity, or disease severity. It means a virus covers a wide area, affecting several countries and populations.
pandemic
for example,
whooping cough occurs in spring, whereas measles tends to appear in a winter season.
weather conditions
for example Minamata is a disease contracted after exposure to mercury.
exposure to chemicals or radioactive materials
such as storms, earthquakes and droughts can lead to high disease transmission.
social aftermath of disasters
such as water supply, food, air, quality and sanitation facilities can catalyze the spread of infectious disease.
number of environmental factors
three major links in disease occurence
the etiologic agent,
the method of transmission ( by contact, by a common vehicle, or via air or via vector),
and the host.
caused by harmful organisms that get into your body from the outside like viruses and bacteria.
infectious diseases
aren’t caused by harmful organisms but by genetics, anatomical differences, getting older and the environment you live in.
non infectious diseases
aims to prevent disease or injury before it ever occurs. This is done by preventing exposures to hazards that cause disease or injury, altering unhealthy or unsafe behavior that can lead to disease or injury and increasing resistance to disease or injury should exposure occur.
primary
to ban or control the use of hazardous products: (e.g., asbestos) or to mandate safe and healthy practices (e.g., use of seatbelts and bike, helment), education about healthy and safe habits (e.g., eating well, exercising regularly and not smoking) immunization against infectious disease.
legislation and enforcement