Chapter 3
2. What does the term endemic disease mean? Give examples of such disease?
a. Endemic disease: A disease that occurs regularly in a population as a matter of course. b. Ex: Heart disease is endemic in America, while in many regions of equatorial Africa, malaria is endemic. Heart Disease, cold
1. What is an epidemic? A pandemic? Name some disease that caused epidemics in the past? Name some diseases that are epidemic today?
a. Epidemic: An unexpectedly large number of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health related event in a particular population. b. Pandemic: An outbreak of disease over a wide geographical area, such as a continent. c. Past epidemic: Typhus, small pox, yellow fever d. Present epidemic: Zika, ebola, swine flu
4. How do experimental studies differ from observational studies? What value do they have in epidemiology? To what principles must investigators adhere in order to properly carry out an experimental study?
a. Experimental Studies: An analytic study in which investigators allocate exposure or intervention and follow development of disease. b. Observational Studies: An analytic, epidemiological study in which an investigator observes the natural course of events noting exposed and unexposed subjects and disease development c. In observation studies the investigators observe the natural course of events, taking note of who is exposed and unexposed and who has or not has not developed the disease of interest. In experiment studies the investigator allocates the exposure and follows the subject for the development of disease.
3. In general, contrast the leading causes of death in the United States in 1900 with those in 2010. Comment on the differences.
a. In the 20th century the leading cause of death was communicable disease (pneumonia, TB, gastrointestinal infections) how ever a century of process in public health practice and biomedical resulted in reduction of death from communicable diseases. The four leading cause of death in the 21st century are non-communicable disease (heart disease, cancer, stroke, and unintentional injuries).
