The Control of Diseases

The following discussion will entail the measures that need to be taken to control disease. This concept is different from elimination of disease and also eradication of disease. The aim is to establish a state of equilibrium between the disease agent, host and environmental aspects of the disease.

Disease Elimination
The term ‘Eliminations’ used to describe interruption of transmission of disease, as for example, elimination of measles, polio and diphtheria from large geographic regions or areas.

Disease Eradication
Eradication of disease implies termination of all transmission of infection by elimination of the infectious agent. Small pox is the only disease that has been eradicated.

How can disease be prevented?
1. Primordial prevention
Primordial prevention, a new concept, is receiving special attention in the prevention of chronic diseases.. For example, many adult health problems (e.g. obesity, hypertension) have their early origins in childhood, because this is the time when lifestyles are formed.
2. Primary Prevention
Primary prevention can be defined as action taken prior to the onset of disease, which removes the possibility that a disease will ever occur. For example the preventive measures taken to prevent diseases such as heart attacks, high cholesterol levels is called primary prevention. Often these simple measures are not taken seriously, which leads us to the second stage of prevention i.e. secondary prevention.
3. Secondary Prevention
Secondary prevention can be defined as action which halts the progress of a disease at its incipient stage and prevents complications. Treating a diseases with medicines constitutes secondary prevention.. The health programs initiated by governments are usually at the level of secondary prevention.
4. Tertiary Prevention
Tertiary prevention is measure used late in the stage of the disease. It includes measures to limit disabilities and also carry out rehabilitation measures.

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