Epidemiology

This is the phenomenon of the emergence and spread of infectious diseases in a population. An epidemic is the interaction between the population of parasites and the population of people, occurring under certain social and natural conditions and causing isolated or multiple cases. It involves a disproportionately large number of individuals in the community or region at the same time.

The science of epidemiology has many definitions. Over the past 50 years, its description has expanded to include not only infectious diseases but all phenomena related to human health. Epidemiology is the distribution of diseases and other health disorders and their determinants in defined populations and the application of these studies to health management (J. M. Last, 2001).

Determinants are physical, chemical, biological, cultural, social, economic, and behavioral factors that influence health. Epidemiology never examines an individual. The study groups can be very diverse: residents of certain regions, countries, people of various professions, groups of men and women, villages, cities, residents of various social groups, etc.

The main object of epidemiological research is the causes of diseases. The epidemiology of infectious diseases is one of the components of modern epidemiology.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė