Epidemiology basics

What epidemiology studies, the natural history of disease, the epidemiologic triad and the levels of prevention.

9 pages

• Descriptive epidemiology: person, place and timeDescriptive epidemiology sorts cases by who, where and when to reveal patterns and suggest…
• Epidemiologic triad and chain of infectionAn infection needs an agent, a susceptible host and an environment that brings them together…
• High-risk and population prevention strategiesTreating only the highest-risk people helps a few a lot; shifting the whole population a little…
• History of epidemiologyA few historical studies invented the methods used today: counting, mapping, comparing groups…
• Levels of preventionPrevention acts before risk appears, before disease, before symptoms, after harm, and also…
• Natural history of diseaseThe course a disease follows with no intervention: from a healthy, exposed person to symptoms…
• Risk and exposure assessmentRisk assessment estimates how much harm a substance or agent can cause, given how many people…
• Spectrum of infection: inapparent, clinical and carriersMost infections go unseen: clinical cases are the tip of the iceberg, and carriers spread…
• What epidemiology isEpidemiology studies how much disease a population has, who gets it, where and when it appears…

A to Z

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y

← Epidemiology, biostatistics and public health

Educational content on epidemiological and statistical methods; the examples use made-up numbers to teach the calculation. Not a clinical or legal guide: current Colombian rules are in the official sources.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.