Define terms endemic epidemic and pandemic according to k Park psm textbook
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I now have all three definitions from K. Park's PSM textbook. Here is the complete answer:
Definitions from Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine
EPIDEMIC
[Epi = upon; demos = people]
"The occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health-related behaviour, or other health-related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy. The community or region and the period in which the cases occur must be specified precisely. The number of cases indicating the presence of an epidemic varies according to the agent, size, and type of population exposed; previous experience or lack of exposure to the disease; and time and place of occurrence. Epidemicity is thus relative to usual frequency of the disease in the same area, among the specified population, at the same season of the year."
Additional point: A single case of a communicable disease long absent from a population, or the first invasion by a disease not previously recognised in that area, requires immediate reporting and full field investigation; two cases of such a disease associated in time and place may be sufficient evidence to be considered an epidemic.
ENDEMIC
[En = in; demos = people]
"It refers to the constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group, without importation from outside; may also refer to the 'usual' or expected frequency of the disease within such area or population group. For instance, common cold is endemic because somebody always has one."
Related sub-types (also from Park):
- Hyperendemic - the disease is constantly present at a high incidence/prevalence rate and affects all age groups equally.
- Holoendemic - a high level of infection beginning early in life and affecting most of the child population, leading to a state of equilibrium such that the adult population shows evidence of the disease much less commonly than children (e.g., malaria).
Additional point: An endemic disease, when conditions are favourable, may burst into an epidemic (e.g., hepatitis A, typhoid fever).
PANDEMIC
"An epidemic occurring over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries, and usually affecting a large number of people. Only some pandemics cause severe disease in some individuals or at a population level. Characteristics of an infectious agent influencing the causation of a pandemic include: the agent must be able to infect humans, to cause disease in humans, and to spread easily from human to human."
Examples given: influenza pandemics and cholera pandemics.
Quick Memory Aid
| Term | Root Meaning | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Epidemic | Upon the people | Cases in excess of normal expectancy in a defined area/time |
| Endemic | In the people | Constant/usual presence in a given geographic area |
| Pandemic | All the people | Epidemic crossing international boundaries, worldwide spread |
Source: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, Chapter on Epidemiology - block 2, ~p. 105-106
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