Question

epidemiological triad in relation to community acquired pneumonia

Answer 1

Epidemiology

The meaning of epidemiology is the study of what is upon the people. Epidemiologist study the interaction of diseases in a population. Greek physician Hippocrates is the father of epidemiology.He is the first one who examined the relation between the occurence of disease & the environmental influence.

Definition of EPIDEMIOLOGY

Study of distribution & ditarminants of health related states in population & use of this study to assess health related problem.

Epidemiological Triad

According to this model there are three factors responsiblr for the disease causation.

1. Agent

2. Host

3. Environmen

Agent ( PRIMARY FACTOR )

Host( HUMAN )    Environment( EXTERNAL FACTORS )

Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP )

It is defined as the lower respiratory tract infection with onset in community or within 2 days during hospitalization. More than 4 million adults are diagnosed with cap in the USA.

Agent Factors

Streptococcus Pneumoniae

Mycoplasma Pneumoniae

Haemophilus Influenza

Respiratory Viruses

Chlamydia Pneumoniae

Legionella Pneumophila

Oral Anerobes

Nocardia Pneumoniae

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Table 1

Host Factors

Host refers to human beings who came in contact with the Agent. Host related factors in case of CAP are;

Genetical

Age ( Mainly Adults & Old Age )

Immunity ( Lack Of Immunity )

Risk Factors ( Smoking, Alcoholism)

Environmental Factors

The number of cases peaks in midwinter

Secondhand Smoking

Air Pollution

Epidemiological Triad In CAP

Agent ( S.pneumoniae ) / Table 1       

Host ( Humas & Their Habits )   Environmental ( Pollutions & midwinter )

Conclusion

According to epidemiological triad theory, anyone expose to disease agent did not contract the disease. From this we can understand that people who exposed to streptococcus pneumoniae did not suffer from pneumoniae, many other factors other than the microorganism which is responsible for the disease among the people.