CAUSATION AND

PREVENTION OF DISEASES
- Dr. Haryax Pathak
 GERM THEORY OF DISEASE
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRIAD
TRIANGLE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
CONCEPT OF MULTI-FACTORIAL CAUSATION
CAUSATION WEB OF CAUSATION
 GERM THEORY OF DISEASE
1860 – Louis Pasteur
demonstrated presence of
bacteria in air
1873 – Louis Pasteur gave the
“Germ Theory of Disease”
One-to-one relationship between
causal agent and disease

DISEASE MAN DISEASE

AGENT
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
TRIAD
ENVIRONMENT
Germ Theory – limited scope
Epidemiological Triad –
considers factors relating to host
and environment
Useful for Infectious Diseases

AGENT HOST
TRIANGLE OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Based of Communicable Disease
Model
Interaction and interdependence
of 4 aspects of disease causation:
 Agent – cause of disease
 Host – organism like Human or
Animals that harbours the
disease
 Environment – factors
external to host that play a
role in disease causation
TIME
 Time – incubation period, life
expectancy of host/pathogen,
duration of disease
MULTIFACTORIAL
CAUSATION
Broader concept needed to
include both Communicable and
Non-Communicable diseases
AGENT replaced by
CAUSATIVE FACTORS.
Advanced Model of Triangle
of Epidemiology – “single
cause” idea replaced by
“multifactorial causation”
WEB OF CAUSATION
Considers all predisposing
factors of disease causation and
the complex inter-relationship
amongst them
Web of Causation – shows
possible interventions that can be
taken to reduce disease
NATURAL HISTORY OF DISEASE
 PRIMORDIAL PREVENTION

PRIMARY PREVENTION
CONCEPTS OF
PREVENTION SECONDARY PREVENTION

TERTIARY PREVENTION
 PRIMORDIAL PREVENTION
• Removal of risk factor
• Health messaging and Behaviour Change Communication
PRIMARY PREVENTION
• Action taken prior to disease onset which removes the
possibility of occurrence of disease

CONCEPTS OF • Intervention in Pre-Pathogenesis Phase

• Population (Mass) Strategy
• High-risk Strategy
PREVENTION SECONDARY PREVENTION
• Action which halts the disease at its incipient stage and prevents
complications
• Early diagnosis and rapid treatment
TERTIARY PREVENTION
• All measures available to limit impairment or disabilities,
minimize suffering, promote patient’s adjustment to
irremediable conditions
MODES OF INTERVENTION
HEALTH PROMOTION

SPECIFIC PROTECTION

EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DISABILITY LIMITATION

REHABILITATION
 HEALTH PROMOTION
• Health Education
• Environmental Modifications
• Nutritional Interventions
• Lifestyle and Behavioural Changes
SPECIFIC PROTECTION

MODES OF • Immunisation
• Fortification and Chemoprophylaxis
• Protection against Occupational Hazards

INTERVENTION • Carcinogens, Allergens, Accidents

EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

DISABILITY LIMITATION
• Impairment
• Disability
• Handicap
REHABILITATION