Saturday, February 12, 2011
Epidemiology is connected to our everyday life!
In our everyday life,we come into contact with so many things.We take showers(contact with water), we eat (contact with food), we breathe (contact with air), we talk to others (perhaps contact with their saliva), we shake hands with new friends (contact with people) and so on.
All of these things may carry the harmful agent that could lead us to be infected with certain diseases. We live in the environment forever, so, we can not stay in a totally separate space to avoid getting infection. Communication is a very important component in life; we can not be isolated from this world. Thus, the risk of getting infectious disease always exists around us. All we can do is to learn more about the epidemiology and try our best to protect our families and ourselves.
All of these things may carry the harmful agent that could lead us to be infected with certain diseases. We live in the environment forever, so, we can not stay in a totally separate space to avoid getting infection. Communication is a very important component in life; we can not be isolated from this world. Thus, the risk of getting infectious disease always exists around us. All we can do is to learn more about the epidemiology and try our best to protect our families and ourselves.
Epidemiology Examples
avian influenza:
In 1997,the first case of avian influenza virus infecting humans occurred in HongKong. Originally, Avian influenza is flu infection among birds. The infection of humans gave us an alert.People who work with poultry , travellers who go to infected countries, health care workers who come into contact with avian influenza have a higher chance of getting infected than a normal person.
The avian flu virus could survive in the environment for a long time. People could be infected by touching the contaminated surface.What is more,the birds who recover from the disease still can shed the virus for a long period of time.
The cases of human infection of H5N1 has been reported in many areas across the world.It poses the threat of disease outbreak. We heard reported cases in Africa,Asia,Pacific,Europe and Indonesia and Vietnam.
The disease could cause death among humans, it is horrible!So,we have to pay much attention to this disease.
The symptoms include: cough, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, fever,headache, malaise and so forth.
Citation : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004522
Hepatitis B:
The irritation and swelling of the liver caused by infection with hepatitis B virus.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001324
Picture citation: http://image.baidu.com/i?ct=503316480&z=&tn=baiduimagedetail&word=renqun&in=25895&cl=2&lm=-1&pn=39&rn=1&di=18501671551&ln=2000&fr=&fmq=&ic=&s=&se=&sme=0&tab=&width=&height=&face=&is=&istype=
Picture citation: http://image.baidu.com/i?ct=503316480&z=0&tn=baiduimagedetail&word=%B8%CE%B5%C4%CE%BB%D6%C3&in=25933&cl=2&lm=-1&pn=0&rn=1&di=42885866568&ln=2000&fr=&fmq=&ic=&s=&se=&sme=0&tab=&width=&height=&face=&is=&istype=2#pn0&-1
In china, the general population are very sensitive for the hepatitis B. Lots of people hold fear for hepatitis B as it can be infectious to humans. Also, the hepatitis B virus is spread widely in China. In average,one of ten Chinese carries this virus.This fact cause the public alienate the hepatitis B patients.And the patients often experience discrimination in many circumstances. For instance, they may be rejected by the employer since they are dangerous to others. People would isolate them to keep safe.
It is true that the hepatitis virus could be transmitted by blood, urine, fluid, saliva, semen and milk. Humans can get infection through sexual transmission, close contact, blood exposure. A positive strategy to prevent hepatitis is to inject the vaccine.
While, we should not isolate or discriminate the hepatitis patients, we must give enough respect and care to them. If we are educated about hepatitis, we will understand how to reduce our risk of infection.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS):
SARS is a serious form of pneumonia due to SARS virus infection.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004460
When I was in high school, I experienced the outbreak of infectious disease--SARS.
Early in the outbreak of SARS cases in China, we did not understand the importance of this disease. As a high school student, I even did not hear any reports about SARS. I knew SARS can be transmitted among humans, and lots of people died of SARS. The Chinese public agency tried to control the outbread, but the effectiveness was not satisfactory. They took actions to keep the travellers from leaving,in order to avoid the virus spreading to other cities. My mom was travelling in another city at that time,she was forced to stay at that city for about two weeks. After a long period of time,the situation eventually improved.
However,until recently,I can still see the report of worldwide SARS cases.I think we need to create more effective weapons to cope with this disease.
The avian flu virus could survive in the environment for a long time. People could be infected by touching the contaminated surface.What is more,the birds who recover from the disease still can shed the virus for a long period of time.
The cases of human infection of H5N1 has been reported in many areas across the world.It poses the threat of disease outbreak. We heard reported cases in Africa,Asia,Pacific,Europe and Indonesia and Vietnam.
The disease could cause death among humans, it is horrible!So,we have to pay much attention to this disease.
The symptoms include: cough, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, fever,headache, malaise and so forth.
Citation : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004522
Hepatitis B:
The irritation and swelling of the liver caused by infection with hepatitis B virus.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001324
It is true that the hepatitis virus could be transmitted by blood, urine, fluid, saliva, semen and milk. Humans can get infection through sexual transmission, close contact, blood exposure. A positive strategy to prevent hepatitis is to inject the vaccine.
While, we should not isolate or discriminate the hepatitis patients, we must give enough respect and care to them. If we are educated about hepatitis, we will understand how to reduce our risk of infection.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS):
SARS is a serious form of pneumonia due to SARS virus infection.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004460
When I was in high school, I experienced the outbreak of infectious disease--SARS.
Early in the outbreak of SARS cases in China, we did not understand the importance of this disease. As a high school student, I even did not hear any reports about SARS. I knew SARS can be transmitted among humans, and lots of people died of SARS. The Chinese public agency tried to control the outbread, but the effectiveness was not satisfactory. They took actions to keep the travellers from leaving,in order to avoid the virus spreading to other cities. My mom was travelling in another city at that time,she was forced to stay at that city for about two weeks. After a long period of time,the situation eventually improved.
However,until recently,I can still see the report of worldwide SARS cases.I think we need to create more effective weapons to cope with this disease.
If you are an epidemiologist……
Imagine if you are an epidemiologist,and you noticed many infectious disease cases in the past days.What will you do?
The correct process should be :
First,collect the data of people involved in cases. The case means the health-related event, such as the outbreak of flu. We need to find the common characteristics of these people. The characteristics may be the genetic factors or the environmental factors. Are they special in origin? Are they exposed to certain environmental hazard? Did they have something in common, like eat some contaminated food or participate in a big event?
Then,we need to know about the modes of transmission.
Reference: Leon Gordis(2008),Epidemiology (4th edition),19.
As the graph shows,the disease can be transmitted in several ways. Health professionals would work to reduce the chances of the disease spreading.
Example: A person gets the flu, and the people around him are healthy. Suddenly, this person sneezes on others. So, the virus could be transmitted to others by this unintended event.(Gordis)
One of the most concerning aspects of infectious disease is that harms can be spread from very few people to large groups of people. So, it is very important to avoid further transmission of the disease.
References:
Leon Gordis(2008),Epidemiology (4th edition),3-19.
The correct process should be :
First,collect the data of people involved in cases. The case means the health-related event, such as the outbreak of flu. We need to find the common characteristics of these people. The characteristics may be the genetic factors or the environmental factors. Are they special in origin? Are they exposed to certain environmental hazard? Did they have something in common, like eat some contaminated food or participate in a big event?
Then,we need to know about the modes of transmission.
Reference: Leon Gordis(2008),Epidemiology (4th edition),19.Example: A person gets the flu, and the people around him are healthy. Suddenly, this person sneezes on others. So, the virus could be transmitted to others by this unintended event.(Gordis)
One of the most concerning aspects of infectious disease is that harms can be spread from very few people to large groups of people. So, it is very important to avoid further transmission of the disease.
References:
Leon Gordis(2008),Epidemiology (4th edition),3-19.
What is epidemiology???
Key words: disease, illness, population, distribution, factors.
Epidemiology is defined as the study of disease and illness distribution in certain populations.
In epidemiology, we need to collect the information about cases, in order to discover the potential factors of the disease and illness.
More definitions of epidemiolgy: webpage link
The epidemiologists analyze when, who and how of disease occur in specific populations. Given the knowledge of the disease patterns, epidemiologists try to control the outbreak of the disease and prevent health problems developing among large populations.
Epidemiology is defined as the study of disease and illness distribution in certain populations.
In epidemiology, we need to collect the information about cases, in order to discover the potential factors of the disease and illness.
More definitions of epidemiolgy: webpage link
The epidemiologists analyze when, who and how of disease occur in specific populations. Given the knowledge of the disease patterns, epidemiologists try to control the outbreak of the disease and prevent health problems developing among large populations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)