Epidemiology Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, principles, and historical figures from Epidemiology Chapter 1.

Epidemiology

The study of how diseases or health characteristics are distributed in populations and the factors that influence or determine this distribution.

Etiology

The cause of a disease.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase a person's risk for a disease.

Pharyngitis Etiology (Very Early in Life)

The origin of pharyngitis that is most likely viral.

Pharyngitis Etiology (Ages 4 to 7 Years)

The origin of pharyngitis that is most likely streptococcal.

Pharyngitis Etiology (Older Children)

The origin of pharyngitis where Mycoplasma becomes most typical.

First Question in Epidemiological Investigation

Asking if observed differences across areas are real or if the data from each area are of comparable quality.

Second Question in Epidemiological Investigation

Asking why differences across areas have occurred, looking at differences in exposures or characteristics of the residents.

Ignáz Semmelweis

The physician who investigated childbed fever at the General Hospital in Vienna and introduced a hand hygiene intervention that significantly reduced maternal mortality. (1846)

Edward Jenner

The physician known for administering early vaccinations against smallpox. (1768)

Dr. D.A. Henderson

The director of the World Health Organization Smallpox Eradication Program.

John Snow

The physician who investigated cholera in London and linked its spread to dirty, contaminated water. Father of epidemiology (1854)

Shoe-leather-epidemiology

Going from house to house, counting all deaths from cholera in each house

Primary Driver of Historical Infectious Disease Mortality Declines

Improvements in social conditions, such as safer water and reduced pollution, which occurred largely before the introduction of medical treatments or vaccines.

Causes of death in 1900

Pneumonia and influenza and TB

Causes of death in 2020

Heart disease, cancer, Covid

Primary prevention

Preventing the initial development of a disease. Immunization, reducing exposure to a risk factor

Secondary prevention

Early detection of existing disease to reduce severity and complications. Screening for cancer.

Tertiary prevention

Reducing the impact of the disease. Rehab for stroke.

Secondhand smoke

1993, it was classified as a known carcinogen by the environmental protection agency which attributed about 3000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking individuals