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Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
Introduction................................................................................................................3
Question.................................................................................................................4
Answer...................................................................................................................4
Question.................................................................................................................6
Answer...................................................................................................................6
Question...............................................................................................................12
Answer.................................................................................................................12
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Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 41.......................................13
Answer.................................................................................................................13
Answer.................................................................................................................14
Answer.................................................................................................................14
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Study Session 41 Integrated Disease
Surveillance and Response
Introduction
In Study Session 40 we considered what public health surveillance means and the
activities it involves. In this study session, we will consider the Integrated Disease
Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system. IDSR involves carrying out disease
surveillance activities using an integrated approach. An integrated approach means
that data on all important diseases will be collected, analysed, interpreted and reported
in the same way, by the same people who normally submit routine report forms on
health-related data. In this study session, we will also consider the case definitions of
priority diseases in Ethiopia, and how priority diseases are reported. Proper
understanding of IDSR, the case definitions and reporting methods will enable you to
identify, register, analyse and report priority diseases quickly and accurately to the
proper authorities. These activities are essential in order to ensure that priority
diseases in your community can be prevented and controlled.
41.1 Define and use correctly all of the key words printed in bold.
(SAQs 41.1, 41.2 and 41.3)
41.2 Describe the key features and importance of the Integrated Disease Surveillance
and Response (IDSR) system in Ethiopia. (SAQs 41.1 and 41.3)
41.3 Explain how you should use case definitions to identify and report cases of
priority diseases and conditions in your community. (SAQs 41.1, 41.2 and 41.3)
First, it is cheap, since the same health personnel and reporting formats are
also used for routine reports of health-related data.
Second, it creates an opportunity to computerise all the available data at the
central level.
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Third, it provides training and capacity building opportunities for health
personnel to develop new skills.
Thus, IDSR is a cost-effective surveillance system which addresses the major health
problems of Ethiopia. Many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa have adopted a
similar IDSR system.
Question
From what has been mentioned above, is IDSR a passive or active surveillance
system? Think back to Study Session 40 and give reasons for your answer.
Answer
IDSR is a passive surveillance system as the data used are collected during routine
health work. Active surveillance, on the other hand, uses data collected after a request
from higher authorities for specific information.
End of answer
They have significant public health importance (causing many illnesses and
deaths)
Table 41.1 List of reportable priority diseases and conditions in Ethiopia in 2010
(International calendar).
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I. Immediately
reportable diseases
(report within 30 Description of the disease
minutes
to higher authority)
Acute flaccid
Polio is the major cause of AFP (see Study Session 4 of this
1 paralysis
Module)
(AFP)
An acute bacterial disease, transmitted from animals to
2 Anthrax humans (zoonosis), manifested by skin lesions and (rarely)
respiratory symptoms, e.g. shortness of breath
An acute viral disease of the respiratory tract, transmitted
Avian human from birds to humans, characterised by fever, headache,
3
influenza muscle pain, prostration, runny nose and other symptoms of
head cold, sore throat and cough
Bacterial disease that causes profuse, watery diarrhoea (see
4 Cholera
Study Session 34)
Dracunculiasis/ An infection of the deep part of the skin by a worm,
5 Guinea worm manifested by blister formation and discharge of the worm
disease when the affected leg of the patient is immersed into water
A viral disease manifested by a whole-body rash, cough and
6 Measles
sore eyes (see Study Session 4)
A rapidly fatal bacterial disease of newborns manifested by
7 Neonatal tetanus neck stiffness, convulsions, sensitivity to bright light and
inability to feed due to locked jaw (see Study Session 3)
An acute viral disease of the respiratory tract, transmitted
Pandemic influenza
from animals to humans, characterised by fever, headache,
8 A
muscle pain, prostration, runny nose and other symptoms of
(H1N1)
head cold, sore throat and cough
A viral disease affecting the nervous system, transmitted by
9 Rabies
the bite of a rabid dog (see Study Session 38)
Severe acute
A rapidly fatal severe viral respiratory infection associated
10 respiratory
with gastro-intestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea
syndrome (SARS)
A viral disease manifested by a rash (but this disease has been
11 Smallpox
eradicated from the world)
Viral haemorrhagic
An acute viral disease manifested by fever, muscle pain and
12 fever
bleeding
(VHF)
An acute viral disease of short duration, transmitted by
13 Yellow fever
mosquitoes, manifested by fever, muscle pain and headache
II. Weekly reportable
diseases
A bacterial or amoebic disease manifested by bloody
14 Dysentery
diarrhoea (see Study Sessions 33 and 34)
An acute febrile disease with chills, headaches and muscle
15 Malaria pain, caused by plasmodium parasites transmitted by
mosquitoes (see Study Sessions 5 to 12)
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I. Immediately
reportable diseases
(report within 30 Description of the disease
minutes
to higher authority)
A condition caused by shortage of protein, or carbohydrate or
16 Malnutrition
vitamins or minerals
A bacterial disease manifested by fever and stiffness of the
17 Meningitis
neck (see Study Session 3)
A bacterial disease, transmitted by human body lice,
18 Relapsing fever manifested by episodes of fever, headache and muscle/joint
pain (see Study Session 36)
A bacterial disease manifested by fever, headache, joint pain
19 Typhoid fever
and diarrhoea (see Study Session 33)
A bacterial disease, transmitted by human body lice,
20 Typhus manifested by sustained high fever, headache and
muscle/joint pain (see Study Session 36)
Question
What is the difference between eradication and elimination? (Think back to Study
Session 2 of this Module).
Answer
Elimination is reduction to zero (or a target very close to zero) of cases of a particular
communicable disease in a particular geographic area. Eradication is the elimination
of a communicable disease from the whole world. Polio, guineaworm disease and
neonatal tetanus have been targeted for global eradication by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
End of answer
In addition to the reportable diseases and conditions listed in Table 41.1, you should
report the health emergencies or emergency conditions listed in Box 41.2. The term
cluster refers to a larger-than-expected number of cases with similar symptoms, but
without clear evidence (at this time) that they are connected in any way. The increase
in cases in a cluster could simply be a coincidence, but it could also be a sign that an
epidemic is beginning, i.e. the rise in number is due to transmission of the infectious
agents between cases. That is why you should report the conditions in Box 41.2
immediately.
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Influenza-like symptoms and signs, such as fever, cough and runny nose
Figure 41.1 Your relationship with the community is very important and should help
you in your surveillance activities. (Photo: Basiro Davey)
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Identify cases of priority diseases and conditions in the community by using
case definitions (see Section 41.4 below)
Report any cases or possible cases to the nearest Health Centre as soon as
possible
Study suspected cases, identify everyone who is affected, and determine where
and when the disease is most common
Actively search for other cases in the community by doing home visits; inform
the community about cases in the area and work with community members to
find more cases
Assist the District Health authorities to treat cases and to control the spread of
the disease
Mobilise and educate the community to prevent the disease from spreading
Keep your community informed about the cases that have been identified and
how they are being managed.
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Figure 41.2 Developmental stages of the malaria parasite (Plasmodium species);
laboratory tests demonstrating these parasites in a patient’s blood confirms a case of
malaria.
Table 41.3 Simplified community case definitions for use in identifying and
reporting suspected priority diseases during community surveillance.
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Priority disease Simplified community case definition
Any person with painful swelling(s) under the arms or in
Plague the groin area; in an area where plague is endemic, any
person with a cough, chest pain and fever
Any child less than 5 years of age with a cough and fast
Pneumonia
breathing, or difficulty in breathing
Any person with a fever that returns following a previous
Relapsing fever
fever
Tuberculosis Any person with a cough lasting three or more weeks
Any person with fever, constipation or diarrhoea,
Typhoid fever confusion (delirium) and with the body in a passively
prone position (prostration)
Any person who has an unexplained illness with fever and
Viral haemorrhagic fever bleeding, or who died after an unexplained severe illness
with fever and bleeding
Any person with fever and yellowing in the white part of
Yellow fever
the eyes, or yellowing of the skin
As a Health Extension Practitioner, you need to teach the community about these
community case definitions of common diseases (Figure 41.3). The community can
recognise and report common diseases to you if they understand these case
definitions. The advantage of using community case definitions (instead of standard
case definitions) is not only that they are simpler to understand. They are also
‘broader’ than standard case definitions, which means that more suspected cases will
be identified using the community case definition, and fewer cases will be missed.
Figure 41.3 A health worker teaching mothers the community case definition of
malnutrition in children. Malnutrition is a weekly reportable condition. Simple
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definitions of immediately reportable diseases can also be taught in meetings like
these. (Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia/Indrias Getachew)
Of the 20 priority diseases in Table 41.1, 13 must be reported immediately to the next
reporting level. For these immediately reportable diseases, a single suspected case
could signal the outbreak of an epidemic, so it is important to report any cases or
suspected cases to the next level of the reporting hierarchy within 30 minutes. This
means you should report cases to the nearest Health Centre within 30 minutes, the
Health Centre reports to the District Health Office within 30 minutes, and so on up to
the highest national level (see Figure 41.4).
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Figure 41.4 Direction of reporting of immediately and weekly reportable diseases.
When you encounter a case of an immediately reportable disease, first report the
information verbally or by telephone, or by sending a text using the SMS short
message service. An official written report using the modified case-based reporting
format (see Appendix 41.1) should follow immediately after the verbal report. You
should remember to record the affected person’s address, age, sex, vaccination status
and symptoms. You should also suggest a possible diagnosis – that is, which of the 13
immediately reportable diseases you suspect. The date of referral and your signature
should also be on the reporting form. After completing the form, you should
immediately send the patient to the Health Centre and check by telephone to confirm
the arrival of the patient at the Health Centre.
Currently, seven diseases and conditions are identified to be reported weekly to the
next reporting level (see Table 41.1). Reports should include the total number of cases
and any deaths seen during the week (Monday to Sunday). Reports should be sent to
the Health Centre every Monday, using the weekly reporting format shown in
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Appendix 41.2. In this format, you are expected to record the name of the disease, as
well as the age and sex of the patient, and the place where the case was diagnosed
(Health Post or community). For suspected cases of malaria, the laboratory result
based on the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) should also be recorded.
Question
Before you use the weekly reporting format, what types of analysis should you do if
there is more than one case of a priority disease? (Think back to Study Session 40.)
Answer
You should organise and report the data according to the age and sex of the cases to
see if any patterns are evident. As you should remember from Study Session 40, data
should be analysed in this way before reporting.
End of answer
In the final study session in this Module, we describe in more detail the actions you
should take to investigate and manage an epidemic of a communicable disease in your
community.
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6. As a Health Extension Practitioner, you must keep a close watch for possible
cases of priority diseases in your catchment area, and quickly report any
suspected or unusual cases or clusters of symptoms to the nearby Health Centre
for investigation and management.
7. Standard case definitions of priority diseases are applied at Health Centres and
hospitals. Simplified community case definitions have been developed for use
by Health Extension Practitioners/Workers, community health volunteers,
traditional healers and birth attendants, and community members. It is part of
your role to educate your community on the community case definitions of
priority diseases, so that they can be detected and reported as soon as possible.
Ayele is a 30-year-old farmer who comes to your Health Post with profuse and
frequent watery diarrhoea. He has lost a lot of fluid and is very weak, so he finds it
difficult to walk. His family informs you that there are several similar cases among
adults in their village. What should you do?
Answer
End of answer
Which one of the following health problems is not an immediately reportable disease?
1. Polio
2. Avian influenza
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3. Rabies
4. Malnutrition
5. Neonatal tetanus
Answer
End of answer
Which of the following statements is false? In each case, explain why it is incorrect.
B IDSR is cost-effective and helpful for integrating data on all reportable diseases at
central level.
D Diseases targeted for eradication should be reported weekly to the higher level.
Answer
A is false. IDSR is a type of passive surveillance where data for all important diseases
are gathered routinely by health institutions.
B is true. IDSR is cost-effective, since the same human resources and formats are
used to report all diseases in the community. It also creates an opportunity to integrate
data on all important diseases at central level.
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E is false. A single case of a disease can indicate an epidemic. For example, a single
case of cholera or of acute flaccid paralysis may signal an epidemic of cholera or
polio.
End of answer
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