O desafio das doenças emergentes e a revalorização da epidemiologia descritiva

Abstract

The definition of emergent and re-emergent diseases, patterns of occurrence during the last 25 years, and the determinants of this occurrence are presented. The importance of descriptive epidemiology and its use in the investigation of these health problems, especially in view of epidemiologists' tendency to give less attention to it, finally, is emphasized the challenges that the emergent diseases pose for public health practice and for the methodological development of descriptive epidemiology are also set out. These challenges are considered in three fields: biosecurity, surveillance systems and descriptive epidemiology techniques.

The epidemiological profile of Pediatric Intensive Care Center at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein

“…Historically, the field of epidemiology was based on the study of major epidemics, which remain a major threat to health and human life (1) . Descriptive epidemiology is focused on identifying and reporting the pattern and frequency of events related to the health of a population, and this process aims to determine the general characteristics of disease behavior and identify the most vulnerable population subgroups (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) . To understand the health and disease patterns of a population group, data regarding the affected individuals and the duration and location of the disease are required (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) .…”

Untitled

“…We believe that the Editors' sensitivity towards a growing debate on the adequacy of current epidemiological methods and objects of study (Barata, 1997;Koopman, 1996;Kriegger, 2001;Levins & Lopez, 1999;Pearce, 1996;Susser & Bresnahan, 2001;Susser & Susser, 1996;Weed, 2001) has contributed to their allocation of this space in the CSP for the publication and discussion of our paper. We wish to thank Drs.…”

A questão ambiental na promoção da saúde: uma oportunidade de ação multiprofissional sobre doenças emergentes

“…Além desses aspectos, colocados como predisponentes a novos agravos, deve-se considerar a possibilidade de alteração do comportamento epidemiológico de antigas doenças, ato imposto pelas próprias condições do meio ambiente e relacionado por Barata (1997). Desta forma, retorna à pauta de discussão e estudos uma outra maneira de focar as doenças infecciosas emergentes e reemergentes já mencionadas, como o cólera (anteriormente controlada), e a Aids (anteriormente desconhecida).…”