Question

Describe in your own works Criteria of Causation and how it relates to exposure and a suspected risk factor? (EPIDEMIOLOGY)

Answer 1

Cause is the significant relationship of a disease causing agent with a disorder in a host. The primary goal of epidemiology is to identify the cause of disease. This can be determined by observation as well as experimental studies of which observation is the commonest method. Identifying the modifiable and non modifiable causes of a disease helps in preventing the onset or minimizing the consequences. One criteria necessary for establishing a causal relation between a pathogen and a disease is an exposure to the risk factors. Causational principles enumerates that the causative factor of a disease is multifactorial and it includes not only the pathogen but also the host factors and environment. Thus the simplest model for explaining the concept of causation is that of epidemiological triad which consists of the agent, host and environment interaction.

Agent is the microbe that causes disease. It's presence as well as the pathogenicity and amount of pathogens present in the environment affects it's disease causing ability. Host is the individual who is at a risk of contracting the disease. Host factors includes the intrinsic risk factors, which are exposure, susceptibility and response to a disease causing agent. Risk for exposure are caused by life style and practices which are modifiable risk factors. Whereas susceptibility and response depends on the genetic , physiological, immunological and psychological make up of an individual. Extrinsic risk factors involves the surrounding environment that may promote or prevent a disease causing agent. It includes geographical factors, climate ,sanitation and availability of health services. This epidemiological triad works well with the causation of infectious diseases. Continuous interaction between these three factors results in exposure to a potential risk factor and the intrinsic and extrinsic factors can either catalyze the process of infection or prevent or minimize the disease progress.