2.4.6 challenges in treatment and control Flashcards
what is epidemiology
study of outbreak and spread of infectious disease
what is the herd immunity threshold
the density of resistant hosts in the population required to prevent an epidemic
what do vaccines contain
antigens
how do vaccines work
they contain antigens that will elicit an immune response
why is it difficult to find drug compounds that only target the parasite
because of the similarities between host and parasite metabolism
what has to be reflected in the design of vaccines
antigenic variation
why can it be difficult to design vaccines
some parasites are difficult to culture in the laboratory
when do challenges arise in treatment control
where parasites spread most rapidly as a result of overcrowding or tropical climates
what is an example of overcrowding
in refugee camps that result from war or natural disaster or rapidly growing cities in LEDCS.
what do overcrowding or tropical climates cause
difficulty in achieving coordinated treatment and control programmes
what are the only practical control strategies
civil engineering projects to improve sanitation combined with coordinated vector control
what can improvements in parasite control lead to
reduced child mortality
population wide improvements in child development and intelligence, as individuals have more resources for growth and development.
