Epidemiology as a Medical Science - Essay Example

"Epidemiology as a Medical Science" is an engrossing example of a paper on epidemiology. Epidemiology is a medical science that investigates how, when, and why diseases occur in human populations (Porta 2014). Initially, epidemiologist’s aim was to reveal and analyze potential causes of endemic diseases like polio, typhoid, and smallpox. However, now it has a much wider range of applications such as the investigation of the determinants associated with non-contagious illnesses like deafness or diabetes and of poisonings induced by environmental factors. In the late 20th century, a separate branch called molecular pathological epidemiology appeared (Ogino & Stampfer 2010).

Epidemiologists fulfill a vast array of functions. Some of them are:

1) Supervise and inspect public health programs, providing statistical analysis, medical care planning, and public health system improvement.
2) Conduct research on diseases and agents to define causal factors, learn the regularities of progress and life cycle and detect modes of transmission.

3) Develop methods of immunization, standardize procedures for drug manufacture, and establish dosages.
4) Undertake studies to improve facilities and methodologies for medical applications.

5) Teach doctors, residents, and technicians principles of medical laboratory procedures (Kogan & Alexander 2005).

In order to realize why a particular disease occurs and what encourages the spread of an epidemic, it is crucial to understand the terms of ‘agent’, ‘host’, and ‘environment’. ‘Agent’ is an entity, either living or inanimate, the deficiency or excessive presence of which may trigger the pathologic process in the body. Some of the living agents are viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi while inanimate agents include chemicals, nutrients, and physical factors like heat or pressure. The affected organism is called a ‘host’.  Host factors such as socio-economic conditions, sex, age, and nutritional status influence the occurrence of diseases. ‘Environment’ is a complex of conditions that characterize a human’s surroundings and may be defined as anything that is external to the body and that he or she constantly interacts with. Some examples include insolation, water, and air (Nadu 2012). Disease results from interactions between the host, the agent, and the environment. Normally, there is a state of strict equilibrium among the three, but adverse conditions may disturb the balance and initiate the disease (Rothman 2002).

The year 2014 was marked with a severe outbreak of Ebola in Western Africa. Three nations, namely Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, became the epicenter of the longest and hardest epidemic in the recorded history of the disease (WHO 2015a). As of 21 February 2015, 14,134 cases with confirmed Ebola were registered in the three countries only, and the number of deaths exceeds 9,500 (WHO 2015b). Over 16,600 children have been left without parental care (UNICEF 2015). In December 2014, the Ebola virus was reported to have reached the United Kingdom (Carroll, Brooks, & O’Carrell 2014). So far, the outbreak has become a real challenge for the epidemiologists and the world medical community.

The role of epidemiology in reducing morbidity is critical. To curb the disease, it is necessary to detect the risk factors and analyze the link between the disease and exposure, which is in the scope of epidemiologists. The significance of spreading awareness about the illness, and teaching hygiene practices, and educating about the modes of transmission cannot be underestimated.  Moreover, studies conducted by epidemiologists create the ground for the invention of new vaccines and medications.

Not less is Epidemiology significant to community health.  It provides a basis for the development, implementation, and management of public health programs (Pai 2008). Community health monitoring and epidemiologic inspection are the keys to understanding the nature of a particular health problem. Finally, epidemiology may be applied to evaluate the efficacy of community health programs.

Read More