Epidemiology: Study of Disease Distribution

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of epidemiology?

Replication of organisms in host tissue

Determining the mode of transmission

Studying the natural course of disease, disability, injury, and death (correct)

Spread of the organism in the environment

What is the purpose of studying the cause (or etiology) of diseases in epidemiology?

To study the spread of the organism in the environment

To provide administrative and planning data

To determine the primary agent responsible or ascertain causative factors (correct)

To identify and determine geographic patterns

What is dissemination in the context of epidemiology?

The spread of the organism in the environment (correct)

The study of geographic patterns

The replication of organisms in host tissue

The mode of transmission of diseases

How does epidemiology aid in the planning and development of health services and programs?

By providing administrative and planning data Signup and view all the answers

What does infection mean in the context of epidemiology?

The replication of organisms in host tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of studying geographic patterns in epidemiology?

To identify and determine geographic patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is the immediate location from which the infecting organism has been transmitted?

Source Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for hosts that harbor a pathogen without clinical symptoms and transmit the infection?

Carrier Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used for a biological source that aids in the transmission of infection from one host to another?

Vector Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for an infection where the disease is transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans?

Zoonosis Signup and view all the answers

What term represents the number of cases of the disease existing in a given population during a specific period?

Prevalence Signup and view all the answers

Which term represents the number of new cases of a disease in a defined population over a specific period?

Incidence Signup and view all the answers

'_____ occurrence is a regular, continuing occurrence (a constant number of cases in one geographic area).'

Endemic Signup and view all the answers

'If the agent is highly transmissible it is said to be ________.'

Contagious Signup and view all the answers

'Significantly increased occurrence (if the incidence of disease is greater than expected or greater than normal sporadic or endemic disease)' describes a ________.'

Epidemic Signup and view all the answers

'_______ occurrence in multiple countries (the incidence of a disease is spread across continents)'.

Pandemic Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Epidemiology Fundamentals

The primary focus of epidemiology is to study the distribution and determinants of health-related events, diseases, or health-related characteristics among populations.

Studying Disease Causes

The purpose of studying the cause (or etiology) of diseases in epidemiology is to understand the underlying factors that contribute to disease development and to identify risk factors.

Disease Transmission

Dissemination in epidemiology refers to the spreading of diseases from one person to another.
Infection refers to the entry and multiplication of an infectious agent in a host, which may or may not result in illness.
The immediate location from which the infecting organism has been transmitted is called the source of infection.
Carriers are hosts that harbor a pathogen without clinical symptoms and transmit the infection.
Vectors are biological sources that aid in the transmission of infection from one host to another.
Zoonosis is an infection where the disease is transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans.

Disease Measurement

Prevalence represents the number of cases of the disease existing in a given population during a specific period.
Incidence represents the number of new cases of a disease in a defined population over a specific period.

Disease Patterns

Endemic occurrence is a regular, continuing occurrence (a constant number of cases in one geographic area).
A highly transmissible agent is said to be contagious.
An epidemic is a significantly increased occurrence (if the incidence of disease is greater than expected or greater than normal sporadic or endemic disease).
A pandemic refers to the occurrence of a disease in multiple countries (the incidence of a disease is spread across continents).

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Description

This quiz covers the study of determinants, occurrence, and distribution of disease in a defined population and its application to health problem control. It includes uses of epidemiology such as determining the natural course of disease, aiding in health service planning, and providing administrative data.