NAME: Farooqui Afraz SECTION: 2-D ID NO: 211100072 SUBJECT: PCM 2

ASSIGNMENT NO.3

1. What is the epidemiology trait? Give example for each.

Ans- Epidemiology is a relatively structured field with its own dictionary and reporting style,
deliberately written in a typical semi-structured format in order to standardize and improve study
design, communication and collaboration. The standard characteristics in most epidemiological
studies include.

• study design - a specific plan or protocol that has been followed in the conduct of the study;
for (e.g.; Descriptive, Correlational, Causal-Comparative/Quasi-Experimental, and Experimental
Research).

• population - demographic details of the individuals (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, nationality)
participating in an epidemiological study; For example,( smoking is clearly the exposure of
interest in a study that examines whether smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than
non-smokers).

• exposure - a factor, event, characteristic or other definable entity that brings about change in a
health condition or in other defined characteristics;

• outcome - the consequence from the exposure in the population of interest; for example,
( disease, state of health, health-related event or death).

• covariate - a concept that is possibly predictive of the outcome under study; For example,
( you are running an experiment to see how corn plants tolerate drought).

• effect size - the measure of the strength of the relationship between variables, that relates
outcomes to exposures in the population of interest. For example,( the correlation between two
variables, the regression coefficient in a regression, the mean difference, or the risk of a
particular event (such as a heart attack) happening).

2. Define communicable disease.

Ans- Communicable disease” means an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that
occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from
an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible
animal or human host.

3. What is the importance of studying epidemiology of communicable disease?

Ans- When a disease occurs in a population, epidemiologists help us to understand where the

disease is coming from, and who it is most likely to impact. The information gathered can
 then be used to control the spread of the disease and prevent future outbreaks., That’s why,
studying epidemiology of communicable disease is important.

4. What is the chain of infection model? Give example for each chain.

Ans- The chain of infection. No matter the germ, there are six points at which the chain can be
broken and a germ can be stopped from infecting another person. The six links include: the
infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible
host.
 Infectious agent is the pathogen (germ) that causes diseases. E.g.( bacteria, fungi,
viruses, and parasites. )

 Reservoir includes places in the environment where the pathogen lives (this includes
people, animals and insects, medical equipment, and soil and water).

 Portal of exit is the way the infectious agent leaves the reservoir (through open wounds,
aerosols, and splatter of body fluids including coughing, sneezing, and saliva).

 Mode of transmission is the way the infectious agent can be passed on (through direct or
indirect contact, ingestion, or inhalation).

 Portal of entry is the way the infectious agent can enter a new host (through broken skin,
the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, and catheters and tubes).

 Susceptible host can be any person (the most vulnerable of whom are receiving

healthcare, are immunocompromised, or have invasive medical devices including lines,
devices, and airways).

5. What are the levels of prevention for communicable disease?

Ans-
 Primary Prevention- intervening before health effects occur, through
measures such as vaccinations, altering risky behaviors (poor eating
habits, tobacco use), and banning substances known to be associated
with a disease or health condition.
 Secondary Prevention- screening to identify diseases in the earliest
stages, before the onset of signs and symptoms, through measures such
as mammography and regular blood pressure testing.
 Tertiary Prevention-managing disease post diagnosis to slow or stop
disease progression through measures such as chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and
screening for complications.
 6. Choose one communicable disease. Give your prevention and control measures based on
the level of prevention(There should be no duplication of communicable disease).

Ans- Chickenpox

 Primary Prevention- Congenital varicella syndrome consists of effective vaccination of

the mother before conception

 Secondary Prevention- involves the use in susceptible pregnant women of varicella-zoster

immune globulin, a specific IgG antibody against varicella-zoster virus, after exposure.

 Tertiary Prevention- Everyone including children, adolescents, and adults should get two
doses of chickenpox vaccine if they have never had chickenpox or were never vaccinated.
Chickenpox vaccine is very safe and effective at preventing the disease.