Epidemiology Flashcards
What is an epidemic?
Widespread rampant outbreak of a disease
The flu is an example of an:
a. Epidemic
b. Pandemic
c. Endemic
Epidemic
What is a endemic?
A disease that is typically present within a particular region
What is a pandemic?
An epidemic that is widespread throughout the world.
Who is the father of epidemiology?
John Snow
What did John Snow discover?
He noted that homes that were seved by specific water companies has a higher rate of cholera. He postulated that cholera was spread by polluted water.
What was the result of John Snow’s observation?
The implementation of an experiment that observed two groups. Each group was served by a different water company.
- S&V Company
- L Company
What was the population of the John Snow Cholera experiment?
Homes of people that died from cholera
What were the two variables of the John Snow experiment?
Water company vs. Death Toll
What was the pattern discovered in the John Snow experiment?
Rate of death from cholera was 8.5 times higher in the homes of S&V Water Co.
What technique does the government use to monitor notifiable diseases when they occur?
Epidemiological surveillance
What is the purpose of epidemiological surveillance?
To monitor notifiable disease and prevent the disease from spreading by taking early action.
What are some examples of diseases that must be notified to state and federal agencies?
Syphillis, Tb, Measels, Hepatitis, HIV
What is Hepatitis A caused by?
A virus, carried in contaminated food or water.
What signals an outbreak of hepatitis A?
A rise in the rate of occurence.
What are four factors that must be noted when investigating an outbreak?
Who has the disease,
when was it contracted,
where was it contracted and at
what rate is the disease being contracted.
What is the most difficult factor to ascertain when investigating an outbreak?
Where the exposure occurred. Where was the common source?
T/F: A person that is symptomatic and hospitalized is a worse threat to the population than a asymptomatic person that continues to work.
False
What are the 4 factors/questions you must ask when considering an outbreak?
Who
What
Where
Rate - Does it continue to spread or did it stop spreading?
What disease are investigated even with only one occurence?
Measles, Meningitis, Mad Cow (encephalitis), Polio, Plague, Diptheria, Cholera
What are the symptoms of Legionaire’s Disease?
Fever, muscle aches, pneumonia
When did the 1st identifiable outbreak of “Legionaire’s disease” occur?
[Not really the 1st outbreak]
In 1976, at The American Legion Conference in Philadelphia
What pattern did the CDC notice when investigating Legionaire’s disease?
The CDC noted that most deaths occurred in those staying in a specific hotel, while some were near the hotel.
What was the source of the spread of Legionaire’s Disease
A water cooling tower that was used for air conditioning was contaminated with bacteria.
What was the transmission of Legionaire’s Disease? How was the determination of the transmission concluded?
The transmission seemed to be airborne, not person-to-person, since family members were not infected.
Where there other documented occurrences of Legionaire’s disease prior to identifying the disease?
Yes! The bacteria was found in preserved blood and tissue from 1965 from 80 pneumonia patients who died from unexplained cause.
What study investigated the factors that contribute to heart disease?
Framingham Study
According to the Framingham study, what era was heart disese more prevalent?
After WWII
1 in 5 men were affected by heart disease by the age of 60.
What risk factors did the Framingham study identify?
BP, Elevated cholesterol levels and smoking
What was the effect of the Framingham study?
New standards were established regarding BP
What were the former beliefs about BP prior to the Framingham study?
Previously it was believed that BP normally increased with age and that higher levels were acceptable with increase in age.
What conditions are associated with elevated BP?
Weight gain & Lack of Exercise
What condition is associated with increase heart disease?
High cholesterol
What were the long term effects of the Framingham Study?
Decrease in death rates from heart disease with a decrease in associated factors: BP was lowered, decreased cholesterol levels and a decrease in smoking occurred.
What were the vairables studied in the Doctor’s Lung Study?
Tobacco smoking vs. Lung cancer
What was the duration of the Doctors Lung Study?
4 years
Who were the subjects in the Doctor lung study: The doctor’s themselves or their patients?
The doctors
What was determined in the Doctors Lung Study?
The death rate from Lung Cancer was 20x higher in smokers than non smokers, increasing as the amt of smoking increased
What result did the publishing of the Doctor Lung study have on death rate?
The death rate of ex-smokers was lower that that of smokers, with a decline as the time of nonsmokers increased.
[The longer you quit smoking the longer you were likely to live.]
Is death rate between smokers vs. non smokers affected by living environment?
The contrast in death rates between smokers and non smokers was consistent whether they lived in urban or rural areas.
At what age were death rates from heart attacks significantly higher amongst heavy smokers?
35-54
