• Epidemiology- the study of the frequency,

distribution and determinants of disease and

other health related conditions in human
populations, and the application of this study
to the promotion of health and to the
prevention and control of health problems.
• "Populations” Epidemiology focuses on the
effects of disease on populations
• "Disease and health related conditions”
Epidemiology indicates that everything
around us and everything we do affects our
health.
• "Frequency" shows that “epidemiology” is a
quantitative science (e.g. occurrence of illness
is measured using
• morbidity rates).
• "Distribution" refers to the occurrence of
disease by place, person and time.
• "Determinants” These are factors that
determine whether or not a person will get a
disease.
• Primary causes - Factors that are necessary
for a disease to occur, and in whose absence
the disease will not occur (e.g. infectious
agents, vitamin deficiencies).
 Epidemiological terms

1. Epidemics - the occurrence of any health related

condition in a given population in excess of the usual
frequency in that population.
2. Endemic - a disease that is usually present in a
population or in an area at a more or less stable level.
3. Sporadic - a disease that does not occur in that
population, except at occasional and irregular intervals.
4. Pandemic - an epidemic disease which occurs
worldwide
5. Disease - a state of physiological or psychological
dysfunction.
6. Infection - the entry and development or multiplication of
an infectious agent in the body of man or animal
7. Contamination – presence of living infectious agent upon
articles
8. Infestation – presence of living infectious agent on the
exterior surface of the body
9. Infectious - caused by microbes and can be transmitted
to other persons.
10. Infectious agent- an agent capable of causing infection