Epidemiology

Question 1

Define epidemiology.

Answer 1

The study and nature, cause, control, and determinants of the frequency and distribution of disease and death in populations.

Question 2

List the steps in an outbreak investigation.

Answer 2

1. Prepare for fieldwork
2. Establish existence of ourbreka
3. Verify diagnosis
4. Define and identify cases
5. Describe and orient the data in terms of time, place and persons
6. Develop and evaluate hypotheses
7. Refine hypotheses and carry out additional studies
8. Implement controls and prevention measures
9. Communicate findings

Question 3

Define cluster, outbreak, and epidemic.

Answer 3

Cluster; refers toan aggregation of cases grouped in place and time that are suspected to be greater than the number expected, even though the expected number may not be known
Outbreak; isa sudden rise in the number of cases of a disease.
Epidemic; is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region.

Question 4

Describe how to determine whether an epidemic actually exists and why investigate an outbreak?

Answer 4

Investigate an outbreak by:
Determining the source of the outbreak, the number of people affected, public concern, consulting epidemiologists, and using a systemic approach.
Why?
For control and prevention, research opportunities, pubic/political concerns, etc…

Question 5

Describe the historic Cholera Outbreak in London.

Question 6

What are current concerns with respect to epidemiology.

Answer 6

Current epidemiological concerns focus on antibiotic resistance, hospital acquired infects, and new forms of hepatitis, etc…

Question 7

How do pandemics end?

Answer 7

Emerged diseases rarely get eradicated. Pandemics can be endemic(e.g. COVID is likely to have an impasse between human and virus as was once seen in the Spanish flu).

Question 8

List at least 5 aims of epidemiology and its main use.

Answer 8

Assessment, evaluation, and research
Identification of syndromes
Determine the causes and sources of sieases
Evaluating risk populations

Question 9

Define endemic, hyper-endemic, holo-endemic, epizootic, incidence, prevalence, attack rate, and index case.

Answer 9

Endemic;
Hyperendmic;
Holoendemic;

Question 10

Outline the E.coli Case Study.

Answer 10

1. Field work & Establish the existence of an outbreak.

Late June 1997; call from 4 MDs reported 6 patients with bloody diarrhoea and E. coli infection.

2. Verify diagnosis.

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