Epidemiology: Introduction, History, & Definitions (1) Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
the study of what is upon people
- it used to only apply to human populations
(hence, demos meaning people)
epi: means upon
What is the LMU epidemiology definition?
the study of the health of populations
What is one health?
the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment
What are the great epidemiology detective cases?
5 Ws and 1 H
Who is John Snow?
English anesthesiologist who innovated several of the key epidemiological methods that remain valid and in use today
believed that cholera was transmitted by contaminated water and was able to demonstrate this association
What is the miasmatic theory of disease?
disease is transmitted by a miasm, or cloud, that clung low on the surface of the earth
hence, malaria for “bad air”
in Snow’s time
What is Snow’s natural experiment?
Snow noted that during a later cholera outbreak in 1854, those residents served by the Lambeth Company had fewer cases of cholera than residents served by the other water company
What is health?
a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
What is disease?
absence of health
a non-compensated perturbation of one or several functions of the host
pathological condition occurring a susceptible host
What is a case definition?
standard set of criteria for deciding whether an individual has a particular health condition
Why is a case necessary?
you don’t always know what is causing the symptoms you are seeing during an outbreak or epidemic
defines who is included (as a numerator) in an outbreak investigation
A case definition is defined in terms of _____, ______, and _____
person
place
time
A case definition can be _____
sensitive
specific
influenced by number of cases
Human rabies is a ______
clinically compatible illness laboratory confirmed by…
What is the case definition for Ebola Zaire?
unexplained fever + contact with suspected patient
or unexplained fever + 3 of the following …
or unexplained acute hemorrhagic disease