Step 6: Perform descriptive epidemiology
Conceptually, the next step after identifying and gathering basic information on the persons with the disease is to systematically describe some of the key characteristics of those persons. This process, in which the outbreak is characterized by time, place, and person, is called descriptive epidemiology. It may be repeated several times during the course of an investigation as additional cases are identified or as new information becomes available.
This step is critical for several reasons.
• Summarizing data by key demographic variables provides a comprehensive characterization of the outbreak — trends over time, geographic distribution (place), and the populations (persons) affected by the disease.
• From this characterization you can identify or infer the population at risk for the disease.
• The characterization often provides clues about etiology, source, and modes of transmission that can be turned into testable hypotheses (see Step 7).
• Descriptive epidemiology describes the where and whom of the disease, allowing you to begin intervention and prevention measures.
• Early (and continuing) analysis of descriptive data helps you to become familiar with those data, enabling you to identify and correct errors and missing values.
Time
Traditionally, a special type of histogram is used to depict the time course of an epidemic. This graph, called an epidemic curve, or epi curve for short, provides a simple visual display of the outbreak’s magnitude and time trend. The classic epidemic curve, such as the one shown in Figure 6.2a from an outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis, graphs the number of cases by date or time of onset of illness.
Step 6: Perform descriptive epidemiologyConceptually, the next step after identifying and gathering basic information on the persons with the disease is to systematically describe some of the key characteristics of those persons. This process, in which the outbreak is characterized by time, place, and person, is called descriptive epidemiology. It may be repeated several times during the course of an investigation as additional cases are identified or as new information becomes available.This step is critical for several reasons.• Summarizing data by key demographic variables provides a comprehensive characterization of the outbreak — trends over time, geographic distribution (place), and the populations (persons) affected by the disease.• From this characterization you can identify or infer the population at risk for the disease.• The characterization often provides clues about etiology, source, and modes of transmission that can be turned into testable hypotheses (see Step 7).• Descriptive epidemiology describes the where and whom of the disease, allowing you to begin intervention and prevention measures.• Early (and continuing) analysis of descriptive data helps you to become familiar with those data, enabling you to identify and correct errors and missing values.Timeประเพณี ชนิดพิเศษของฮิสโตแกรมจะใช้เพื่อแสดงเวลาเวลาของโรคระบาด กราฟนี้ เรียกว่าโค้งเรื้อรัง การ epi โค้งสั้น ๆ ให้แสดงผลภาพเป็นเรื่องของแนวโน้มการระบาดขนาดและเวลา คลาสสิเรื้อรังเส้นโค้ง เช่นที่แสดงในรูป 6.2a จากการระบาดของซัล enterica serotype Enteritidis, graphs จำนวนตามวันหรือเวลาที่เริ่มมีอาการเจ็บป่วย
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