Endemic Definition In Medicine
The occurrence of more cases of a disease than would be expected in a community or region during a given time period.
Endemic definition in medicine. The disease is present in a community at all times but in relatively low frequency. In ecology an endemic species refers to a species that is native to where it is found. A species can be endemic to a particular small geographical area such as a single island or to a larger area such as a continent. In biology the term endemic can be used to describe a species ecology or a disease medicine.
According to the cdc s definition of an endemic and per dr. A characteristic of a particular population environment or region. If you translate it literally endemic means in the population it derives from the greek endēmos which joins en meaning in and dēmos meaning population endemic is often used to characterize diseases that are generally found in a particular area. 2002 by the mcgraw hill companies inc.
For example malaria is said to be endemic to tropical regions. The word endemic built from the prefix en in or within and the greek word demos people means within the people of a region a disease that affects many more people than usual in a particular area or that spreads into regions in which it does not usually occur is said to be epidemic. Ryan s remarks in the latest press conference covid 19 could remain a constant presence either around the world or in a specific. Endemic is perhaps most commonly used to describe a disease that is prevalent in or restricted to a particular location region or population.
Examples of endemic diseases include chicken pox that occurs at a predictable rate among young school children in the united states and malaria in some areas of africa. Ed also refers to the usual prevalence of a given disease in an area or group mcgraw hill concise dictionary of modern medicine. In epidemiology an infection is said to be endemic from greek ἐν en in within and δῆμος demos people in a population when that infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs. A sudden severe outbreak of a disease such as sars.
Endemic disease epidemiology the presence of a disease or infectious agent in a given geographic area or population group. Endemic is an adjective that means natural to native to confined to or widespread within a place or population of people. 2 for microparasites such as measles endemic refers to an infection that can persist in a population in the long term without reintroduction from outside. For example chickenpox is endemic steady state in the united kingdom but malaria is not.
Endemic conditions do not exhibit wide fluctuations over time in a defined place. From the greek epi upon demos people or population epidemos upon the population. Malaria for example is said to be endemic to tropical and subtropical regions.