Newest Note Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
The study of the frequency, distribution, and determinants of diseases in populations.
What are the major components of epidemiology?
Population, frequency, health-related conditions, distribution, determinants, and application to health promotion.
Who is considered the father of epidemiology?
John Snow.
How did John Snow contribute to epidemiology?
He identified contaminated water as the source of cholera in London.
What are the primary uses of epidemiology?
Community diagnosis, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and health service planning.
What is disease causation?
The event, condition, or characteristic that plays a role in producing a disease.
What are the two main classifications of disease causes?
Primary causes and risk factors.
What is the epidemiologic triangle?
A model showing the interaction between agent, host, and environment in disease occurrence.
What is an agent in the epidemiologic triangle?
A factor necessary for a disease to occur (e.g., bacteria, virus, toxin).
What is the role of the environment in the epidemiologic triangle?
It includes external factors like climate, pollution, and social conditions that influence disease.
What is the natural history of disease?
The progression of a disease over time without intervention.
What are the four stages of disease progression?
Susceptibility, subclinical stage, clinical stage, and disability or death.
What happens during the stage of susceptibility?
The person is at risk but has not yet developed the disease.
What is an example of a disease in the subclinical stage?
HIV infection before symptoms appear.
What is primary prevention?
Measures taken to prevent disease before it occurs (e.g., vaccination, health education).
What is secondary prevention?
Early detection and treatment to prevent disease progression (e.g., cancer screening).
What is tertiary prevention?
Rehabilitation and management to improve quality of life (e.g., physiotherapy for stroke patients).
What is a communicable disease?
An illness caused by an infectious agent that spreads from person to person.
What are the components of the infectious disease process?
Agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
What is a disease reservoir?
A habitat where an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies.
What is a zoonotic disease?
A disease transmitted from animals to humans (e.g., rabies, anthrax).
What is a portal of exit?
The route by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir (e.g., respiratory secretions, blood).
What are the modes of disease transmission?
Direct (contact, droplets) and indirect (vehicles, vectors, airborne).
What is an example of direct transmission?
HIV transmission through sexual contact.
