The epidemiology (from Greek epi=auf, over, demos=Volk, logos=Lehre) is the study of the spreading and causes of health-referred conditions and events in populations. The epidemiological knowledge is generally used, in order to hold health problems of the population under control. In the veterinary medicine for it the similar term Epizootiologie is preferred.

This science examines factors, those to health and illness of individuals and populations to contribute and is therefore the basis of all measures, which are undertaken in the interest of the public health. In contrast to it the medicine worries to help individual humans in a concrete medical case.

Activities of the epidemiology

The epidemiologist carries practical work out in the investigation of an epidemic disease, of environmental influences and in the health promotion. Theoretical aspects are statistic collection of diseases and their trips, the development of mathematical models and methods as well as clarifying philosophical and ethical aspects. In order this will reach with observing or experimental studies worked, in order to record for example relations between possible causes such as nutrition, social status, stress and chemicals and consequences such as illness and well-being objectively.

Mathematical models are very important, in order to determine the probability from future epidemic diseases and their process to. Likewise they help when planning of the vaccination campaigns. (see mathematical modelling of the epidemiology. ''

Epidemiological investigations are generally divided into describing, analytic and experimental activities. Some Wissenschafter work in the public health promotion, other one in hospitals and again different one in development assistance. With the occurrence of new diseases as for instance SARS and bird flu are indispensable for epidemiologists.

Origin of the term

"Epidemiology "comes from the Greek epi "over ", demos "humans, district "and logos "word, description "and suggests thus, the epidemiology is concerned only with the propagation of diseases in human populations. There are however also the veterinary epidemiology (also Epizootiologie) and epidemiological investigations of diseases on plants.

History

The history of the epidemiology in the actual sense began 1854, when Dr. John Snow fought an Cholera outbreak in the Londoner Soho district. It recognized that a public water chamber was the source of the pathogens, and put the dirty pump quietly. The outbreak was stopped; one has however references that the epidemic disease anyway was in the process to flatten, when Snow acted.

Other pioneers were the Danish physician PER ANNUM Schleisner, which worked 1849 to terminate the Tetanus neonatorum epidemic disease on the west man islands by preventing measures and which Hungarian physician Ignaz roll-point, which 1847 abolished the often deadly child bed fever by introduction of consistent hygiene measures. The realizations of roll-point by the trade association were not accepted, because the acceptance that it gives ill-making Kleinstlebewesen - bacteria -, was considered at that time as ridiculous.

An important milestone in the history of the epidemiology (and also the Parasitologie) is the 1880 during the building of the God hard railway tunnel effected discovery of the Hakenwurms, Ancylostoma duodenale, as a cause of the so-called sinking God hard illness - a parasitic anemia. On the basis of the epidemiological realizations the conditions of work and hygenic conditions were then improved.

The disinfection was only then used broadly in the medicine, when the British surgeon Joseph Lister discovered antiseptic means, based on work of Louis Pasteur. In early 20. Century mathematical methods were introduced to the epidemiology, in order to describe and prognosticate the occurrence of diseases in populations.

Articles in category "Epidemiology"

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