Infectious Diseases

Question 1

What are the Top 5 Infectious Disease Causes of DALYs in low-income countries?

Answer 1

1. Lower Respiratory Infections
2. Diarrheal diseases
3. HIV/AIDS
4. Malaria
5. Tuberculosis

Question 2

The 90-90-90 targets for HIV and Undetectable= Untransmittable

Answer 2

A plan made to step up the HIV response in low- and middle income countries to meet the SDG 3 target to end AIDS by 2030

Refers to the pathway by which a person is tested, linked and retained in HIV care, and initiates and adheres to antiretroviral drugs to achieve viral suppression

• By 2020, 90% of all people living w/ HIV will know their HIV status
• By 2020, 90% of all people w/diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy
• By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression

Question 3

Strategies and Interventions targeting HIV Prevention and Transmission

Answer 3

1. Condoms
2. Circumcision (males)
3. PREP: taking antiretroviral before HIV exposure
4. Universal Precautions: stay away from needles
5. Undetectable= Untransmittable: If one takes antiretrovirals, s/he can suppress HIV virus to undetectable levels, therefore becoming untransmittable

Question 4

Epidemiological Triad

Answer 4

• Agent
• Host
• Environment

Question 5

Agent

Answer 5

carrier of disease (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite)

Question 6

Host

Answer 6

• susceptible humans/ animals
• influences of exposure: age, gender, behaviors, socioeconomic status
• influences of response to agent: age, genetic makeup, immune functioning

Question 7

Environment

Answer 7

Extrinsic factors that affect agent and opportunity for host exposure

• Physical: geography, climate
• Biological: insects that transmit agent
• Intermediary determinants: crowding, sanitation, availability of health services

Question 8

Control

Answer 8

Reduction of disease incidence and burden to point where its no longer a public health priority

Question 9

Elimination

Answer 9

Interruption of transmission of pathogen & fall in disease incidence to zero in a defined geographical area

Question 10

Eradication

Answer 10

Interruption of pathogen transmission worldwide & fall in disease incidence to zero

Question 11

Extinction

Answer 11

Disappearance of pathogen from planet

Question 12

Infectious

Answer 12

Disorders caused by organisms

Question 13

Virulent

Answer 13

(Of a disease or poison) ability to cause death/morbidity)

Question 14

Infectious

Answer 14

(Of a disease or disease-causing organism) likely to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc., through the environment

Question 15

Pathogenic

Answer 15

Causing or capable of causing disease

Question 16

How Infectious Diseases contribute to DALYs

Answer 16

-IDs account for:

• 40% of DALYs in Sub-Saharan Africa
• about 15% in South Asia
• less than 10% in MENA, East Asia & Pacific, LAC, Europe & Central Asia

Question 17

Difference btwn Incidence and Prevalence: HIV

Answer 17

HIV was a special case where incidence is decreasing as less people are acquiring HIV
-However prevalence is increasing because people are living longer with HIV due to ability to access ARTs

Question 18

Epidemiological Triad: HIV

Answer 18

• Agent: viral infection that targets a person’s immune system, inhibiting their body from effectively fighting HIV on its own
• Host: Those who do not practice safe sex are more susceptible to contracting HIV, as it can be transmitted when bodily fluid comes into contact w/a mucous membrane or damaged tissue
• Environment: Communities w/higher concentrations of sexually transmitted diseases and lower incidences of reporting- usually due to social pressure- allow HIV to flourish. Poverty also limits access to care and treatment; discrimination can discourage individuals from being tested or seeking care

Question 19

Difference btwn Incidence and Prevalence: TB

Answer 19

• Incidence of TB is decreasing yet is still high as it is the top infectious killer in the world and drug-resistant TB is still a major public health concern
• Prevalence of TB is decreasing though TB diagnosis and treatment

Question 20

Epidemiological Triad: TB

Answer 20

-Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium that most often affects the lungs

• Host: Spread from person to person through the air via sneezing,coughing, and spitting
• More susceptible if have poor housing or circulation, or weak immune system

-Environment: TB germs suspended into the air cause people to become infected when they inhale these germs

Question 21

Difference btwn Incidence and Prevalence: LRI

Answer 21

Incidence is high for LRI as there is no cure for viral infections

Prevalence is low because LRI’s are generally acute and people no longer suffer from them after a short span of time

Question 22

Epidemiological Triad: LRI

Answer 22

-Agent: caused by bacteria and viruses

• Host: Spread from person to person through the air via sneezing,coughing, and spitting
• poor immune functioning, low birth weight, undernutrition, pollution, poor living conditions are risk factors

-Environment: People not being cleanly or sanitary can increase the chance of these viruses/ bacterias that cause LRIs to be suspended in the air, increasing chance of others becoming infected

Question 23

Difference btwn Incidence and Prevalence: Diarrheal diseases

Answer 23

• Incidence: quite high but decreasing w/ the implementation of rotavirus vaccination, mothers breastfeeding kids, safe water and improved hygiene and sanitation in low-income nations
• Prevalence is decreasing as those affected are treated w/vaccinations, or are quickly die in a matter of days to weeks

Question 24

Epidemiological Triad: Diarrheal diseases

Answer 24

-Agent: Caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites; these germs are usually spread through contaminated water, food, or objects.

• Host: Children most vulnerable
• Risk factors include poor immune functioning, undernutrition, poor sanitation

-Environment: heavily unsanitary spaces, i.e where unclean water is found and fecal matter is out in the open