Download Jeanette Henson MPH 510 Week 6 Discussion – Investigating

Jeanette Henson
MPH 510
Week 6 Discussion – Investigating Chronic and Infectious Diseases
Epidemiologists investigate disease that are effecting people whether it is a chronic condition
or an infectious, communicable disease. The approach used to fight these diseases are different but
the end result is the same, to save lives.
Chronic illnesses are ones that last a long time and are difficult to eradicate ( Friis,
2014). The investigations for these diseases look for risk factors that make people susceptible to the
illness. Chronic disease investigations can happen over a long period as new data becomes
available and advancement in screen processes make detection more efficient. There are a few
different types of screenings that are used, Multiphasic screening, Mass and selective screening,
and mass health examinations. Multiphasic screening is the use of two or more screening tests
together among large groups of people (Friis, 2014). Mass screening or population screening is the
testing of a total population regardless of any risk factors that may or may not be present. Selective
screening looks at risk factors that make people more susceptible to a certain disease and the
people with the associated risk factors are screened. Mass Health Examinations are more
observations than screenings because they are data collection methods and not giving aid to the
ill. The data provides information on the distribution and determinants of disease in carefully
selected populations (Friis, 2014). It is important to examine risk factors of chronic illness so that
their detection and treatment can be assessed.
Infectious or communicable diseases are illness caused by an infectious agent that can be
transmitted from one person to another. The mode of transmission of infectious disease are from
droplets from a sneeze or cough into the air, direct contact with another person, fomites, vehicle like
food or water, vector an animal or insect that carries the disease, and airborne (Friis,
2014). Infectious disease investigations are generally more urgent, as the need to stop the spread
of the disease is a high priority. The procedure for communicable diseases differ greatly from
chronic diseases. The text book “Epidemiology for Public Health Practice” sets the steps as follows:
1. Define the problem: Follow up on reports to see if the outbreak is real
2. Appraise existing data: Evaluate know distributions of cases with respect to person, place,
and time.
1. Case Identification: Tracking down all cases of the disease potentially involved in the
outbreak.
2. Clinical observations: The number, types and patterns of symptoms associated with the
disease are recorded.
3. Tabulation and spot map: Cases may be plotted on a map to show geographic
clustering or cases may be tabulated by date and time of onset of symptoms by
demographic characteristics or by risk category.
4. Identification of responsible agent: Using incubation period, symptoms and evidence
form cultures the cause of the illness is identified.
3. Formulate a hypothesis: What are the possible sources of infection? What is the likely agent?
What is the most likely method of spread? What would be the best approach for control of the
outbreak?
4. Test the hypothesis: Gather information to confirm or refute your hypothesis, while still
investigation other possibilities.
5. Draw conclusions and formulate practical applications: Based on the data do programs,
policies, or procedures need to be put in place to monitor and prevent a recurrence of similar
outbreaks.
The knowledge that I am taking away from this is while infectious disease tent to get more
attention because of the need for response, chronic conditions are also a very serious threat that
need attention. Every bit of data that is gathered on a chronic condition gets us a step closer to
being able to prevent and better treat these diseases.
I will also be cognizant of the steps needed to properly investigate an infectious disease
outbreak. The first step really caught my attention, making sure the outbreak was real. Before
panicking people it is important to make sure that there really is a threat that needs to be taken care
of.
Resources
Friis, R., Sellers, T. (2014). Epidemiology for public health practice. In Jones and Bartlett Learning,
LLC and Ascend Learning Company.
Reingold, A. (1998). Outbreak investigations – a perspective. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Emerging Infections Diseases Vol. 4 Number 1. Retrieved from:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/4/1/98-0104_article