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In epidemiology, prevalence is the proportion of a particular population found to be affected by a medical condition at a specific time.
In epidemiology, prevalence is the proportion of a particular population found to be affected by a medical condition at a specific time.
See lessIn epidemiology, the incidence is a measure of the probability of occurrence of a given medical condition in a population within a specified period of time. Although sometimes loosely expressed simply as the number of new cases during some time period, it is better expressed as a proportion or a ratRead more
In epidemiology, the incidence is a measure of the probability of occurrence of a given medical condition in a population within a specified period of time. Although sometimes loosely expressed simply as the number of new cases during some time period, it is better expressed as a proportion or a rate with a denominator.
See lessDiseases or infections are transmitted in many ways. It may be directly transmitted from one person to another, or by certain bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or fungi. There are two different modes of transmission of diseases: A) Direct Transmission– This occurs when the pathogen is transmitted directlRead more
Diseases or infections are transmitted in many ways. It may be directly transmitted from one person to another, or by certain bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or fungi. There are two different modes of transmission of diseases:
A) Direct Transmission– This occurs when the pathogen is transmitted directly from an infected person. For eg., if an open wound comes in contact with the blood of a Hepatitis B infected patient, the wounded person might contract the disease.
B) Indirect Transmission- When the pathogens are not transmitted directly from the infected person but through vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, ticks, dogs, etc., it is known as indirect transmission.
Disease Transmission:
A) Direct Transmission
1. Person to Person: When an infected person comes in contact with or exchanges body fluids with a non-infected person. A mother can transmit infections to the unborn child via the placenta. A sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhoea can be transmitted by direct transmission.
2. Droplet Transmission: The droplets spread during sneezing, speaking, and coughing by an infected person can spread infections. The infections can also spread by touching the nose and mouth with the hands contaminated with infectious droplets. The droplets are so minute that they travel only a short distance before falling. The people nearby might contract infections.
3. Spread by skin: There are a few infections such as chickenpox, conjunctivitis, head lice, ringworm, etc., which spread when the skin of an infected person comes in contact with the skin of the other person.
4. Spread through body fluids or blood: A few diseases spread when the body fluids or blood of an infected person come in contact with the mucous membrane or bloodstream of an uninfected person. Diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, cytomegalovirus infections, etc. spread through semen and vaginal fluids, saliva, breastmilk, urine, etc.
B) Indirect Transmission:
1. Airborne Transmission: Some infectious agents remain suspended in the air for a long period of time. These pathogens might attack the immune system of a person in contact. E.g. if you enter a room that was initially occupied by a patient of measles, you too might catch the infection.
2. Contaminated Objects: The objects around us carry pathogens. Touching the infected objects which were initially used by a diseased person might render us diseased. Contaminated blood and medical supplies can also spread infections.
3. Vector-Borne Diseases: Some infectious agents are transmitted by the blood-sucking insects. The insects feed on hosts such as birds, animals, and humans and carry infectious agents from them. These infections are transmitted to some new host. Malaria and Lyme disease are the two vector-borne diseases.
4.Food and Drinking Water: Improperly canned and undercooked food is the main source of infections. Water also carries various pathogens from rivers and lakes. It should be boiled or filtered before use. E.coli is transmitted through contaminated food which causes various stomach problems. Botulism is caused by the consumption of improperly canned food. Cholera is one water-borne disease which has affected millions of people consuming contaminated water.
5.Transmission through Animals: When an infected animal bites or scratches against a person, it transfers the infectious agents to the person. These agents can also be transmitted through animal waste. When diseases are transferred from animals to people, zoonosis occurs. Anthrax (sheep), rabies (dogs), plague (rodents) are some of the diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are more prone to infections.
6.Environmental Factors: The infectious agents are present in soil, water and plants as well. These agents can be transmitted to people and may cause diseases. For eg., Hookworm is transmitted through contaminated soil. Legionnaires’ disease is spread by water supplied to condensers and cooling towers.
See lessAn epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time.
An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time.
See lessA pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance, multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people. A widespread endemic disease with a stable number of infected people is not a pandemic.
A pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance, multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people. A widespread endemic disease with a stable number of infected people is not a pandemic.
See lessIn epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs.
In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs.
See lessEpidemiology is the only way of asking some questions in medicine, one way of asking others (and no way at all to ask many). Seven ‘uses' of epidemiology have been described: 1. In historical study of the health of the community and of the rise and fall of diseases in the population; useful ‘projectRead more
Epidemiology is the only way of asking some questions in medicine, one way of asking others (and no way at all to ask many). Seven ‘uses’ of epidemiology have been described:
1. In historical study of the health of the community and of the rise and fall of diseases in the population; useful ‘projections’ into the future may also be possible.
2. For community diagnosis of the presence, nature and distribution of health and disease among the population, and the dimensions of these in incidence, prevalence, and mortality; taking into account that society is changing and health problems are changing.
3. To study the workings of health services. This begins with the determination of needs and resources, proceeds to analysis of services in action and, finally, attempts to appraise. Such studies can be comparative between various populations.
4. To estimate, from the common experience, the individual’s chances and risks of disease.
5. To help complete the clinical picture by including all types of cases in proportion; by relating clinical disease to the subclinical; by observing secular changes in the character of disease, and its picture in other countries.
6. In identifying syndromes from the distribution of clinical phenomena among sections of the population.
7. In the search for causes of health and disease, starting with the discovery of groups with high and low rates, studying these differences in relation to differences in ways of living; and, where possible, testing these notions in the actual practice among populations.
See less1. To describe the distribution and magnitude of health and disease problems in the human population. 2. To identify etiological factors in the pathogenesis of diseases. 3. To provide data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of services for the prevention, control, and treatmenRead more
1. To describe the distribution and magnitude of health and disease problems in the human population.
2. To identify etiological factors in the pathogenesis of diseases.
3. To provide data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of services for the prevention, control, and treatment of diseases and setting priorities among those services.
4. Study natural history and prognosis of diseases.
5. Evolute both existing and newly developed prevention and therapeutically measure.
6. Provide the foundation for developing public policy.
Epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global). It is also the aRead more
Epidemiology is the study (scientific, systematic, and data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global). It is also the application of this study to the control of health problems.
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Carrier refers to an organism that harbors a specific infectious agent in the absence of discernible clinical disease and serves as a potential source of infection. A carrier can be divided into three categories based on the type of disease they carry and symptoms they display: asymptomatic carrier,Read more
Carrier refers to an organism that harbors a specific infectious agent in the absence of discernible clinical disease and serves as a potential source of infection. A carrier can be divided into three categories based on the type of disease they carry and symptoms they display: asymptomatic carrier, genetic carrier, and symptomatic carrier.
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