Causation in Disease

Causation in Disease

Overview

• Discipline aimed at identifying causes of disease (both modifiable and non-modifiable)

• Goal: prevention of disease and its consequences

Epidemiologic Triad or Triangle

• One of the simplest disease causation models

• Traditional model for infectious disease causation

  • Components (ESE):

    • External Agent

    • Susceptible Host

    • Environment (brings agent and host together)

• Disease results from interaction of (ESE):

  • External Agent

  • Susceptible Host

  • Environment that supports transmission

Triangle of Epidemiology

• Time (Middle): Affected by host, infectious agent, and environment

• Host: Impacts exposure susceptibility, and response

• Infectious Agent: The cause of disease

• Environment: Influences opportunities for exposure