Observingthedistributionofdiseaseorhealth related events in human population.
• Identify the characteristics with which the disease is associated.
• Basically 3 questions are asked who, when and where.
• Who means the person affected, where means the place and when is the time distribution.
6. • Short term fluctuation
Common Source epidemic- Single exposure or point source
– eg. Food poisoning
Continuous or multiple source – contaminated water-
Cholera
. Propagated Epidemic- Hepatitis A, Polio epidemic
Periodic Fluctuation
Seasonal Trend – measles, varicella, URTI, malaria etc.
Cyclic Trend – measles in prevaccination era appeared in
major peaks every 2-3 years and rubella in every 6-9 years
Long term fluctuation- Secular Trend –progressive increase
or decrease over a long period of time. CHD, Diabetes
showed an upward trend during past 50 years
7. Place distribution
• Presence of disease varies in different geographical
areas depended upon the environmental condition
and genetic variation of the host.
a. International variation – Ca Cx and Ca oral cavity
in India, Ca breast in western countries.
b. National variation – malaria, endemic goitre,
flurosis
c. Rural urban variation –urban- lung Ca, CVDs,
mental illnesses, chr. Bronchitis. Rural- skin
diseases, zoonosis, soil transmitted dis.s
d. Local distribution – endemic goitre, yellow fever
8. Person distribution
Age : Childhood – measles, Upper respiratory illness,
Pneumonia etc.
Middle Age :- Cancer, Accident, Occupational diseases,
Peptic ulcer
Old Age :- Atherosclerosis, Cancer, Cardiovasculardiseases,
Hypertension, Chronic Degenerative diseases.
Bio Modality – Hodgekin’s disease
Sex : Some diseases are common in females and some common
in males. In males - lung cancer
In females Breast, Ovarian, Cervical cancer
Marital Status : Cancer cervix more common in early marriage,
multiple sex partner.
Occupation : sedentary occupation more of cardiovascular risk,
diabetes, obesity.
Occupational hazards like skin cancer and allergy in dye
industry, Bronchitis and lung disease in dusty trades .
13. Difference between Descriptive and Analytical Epidemiology
Descriptive Epidemiology Analytical Epidemiology
Only one group studies At least two groups are studied for
comparison
At the start of study there is no
explicit hypothesis regarding cause
effect relationship
At the start of the study there is definite
hypothesis regarding an exposure
possibly causing an outcome.
The study ends in development of
possible hypothesis regarding cause
and effect relationship but does not
confirm or reject such hypothesis
At the end of the study it confirms or
rejects the hypothesis with which it
started