Epidemiology

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

• Study of patterns of diseases and the effects of the environmental and human behavioural factors on public health.

Question 2

Agents

Answer 2

Refers to any Biological factors (virus, bacterium, parasites), Chemical (eg. Chernobyl), and Physical causes of disease or injury.

Question 3

Hosts

Answer 3

humans which are susceptible to disease.

Question 4

Environmental Factors affecting diseases are?

Answer 4

They are extrinsic factors that affect agents and the opportunity for exposure.

• Physical factors: geology and climate
• Biological factors: insects (transmitting agents)
• Socioeconomic factors: crowding, sanitation, availability of health services.

Question 5

Intrinsic factors to host which affect their predisposition to disease?

Answer 5

• behaviour, genetics, immunological status, nutrition

* influence the host’s exposure, susceptibility and response to the causative agent.