Basics
A field of science that studies health problems within populations
What is Epidemiology?
Transfer of an agent from reservoir to host by direct contact or droplet spread
What is Direct Transmission?
Virus or bacteria capable of causing disease
What is the Germ?
Intervening before health effects occur through preventative measures
What is Primary Prevention
The habitat (living or nonliving) where the agent lives, grows and multiplies
What is a Reservoir?
Normal levels of disease confined to a population
What is an Endemic?
Passing of a disease to a previously unaffected individual or group without direct contact with an infected individual
What is Indirect Transmission?
Where the germ is found
What is the Place?
Requires a change in behavior of the individual
What is Active Primary Prevention?
The first case of disease known by investigators
What is an Index Case?
Generally sudden increase in disease cases above expected levels in a region.
What is an Epidemic?
Spread of an infection by droplets or dust with a particle spread of 3 ft or more
What is Air-borne Transmission?
How the germ leaves the reservoir
What is the Path Out?
Does not require behavior change in the individual
What is Passive Primary Prevention?
A nonliving object that is capable of being a means of transmission
What is a Fomite?
An Epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents.
What is a Pandemic?
When disease is transmitted through vectors
What is Vector-borne Transmission?
The method in which the germ is carried from one place to another
What is Method of Spreading?
Aims to stop the progression of the disease after detection
What is Secondary Prevention?
The standard used to determine if an individual should be counted as having the disease
What is the Case Definition?
Model of disease causation that includes the host, agent, the environment and time.
What is the Epidemiology triangle?
When a disease undergoes a physiologic change during its passage through the vector to a host
What is Biological Transmission?
The method of entry into a new host
What is Path In?
Attempts to limit the damage already caused by the disease by implementing rehabilitation
What is Tertiary Prevention?
How successful an intervention program is under ideal conditions
What is Efficacy?