Klaus Krickeberg – författare

Hardly a day goes by without news headlines concerning infectious disease threats. Currently the spectre of a pandemic of influenza A|H1N1 is raising its head, and heated debates are taking place about the pro’s and con’s of vaccinating young girls against human papilloma virus. For an evidence-based and responsible communication of infectious disease topics to avoid misunderstandings and overreaction of the public, we need solid scientific knowledge and an understanding of all aspects of infectious diseases and their control.

The aim of our book is to present the reader with the general picture and the main ideas of the subject. The book introduces the reader to methodological aspects of epidemiology that are specific for infectious diseases and provides insight into the epidemiology of some classes of infectious diseases characterized by their main modes of transmission. This choice of topics bridges the gap between scientific research on the clinical, biological, mathematical, social and economic aspects of infectious diseases and their applications in public health.

The book will help the reader to understand the impact of infectious diseases on modern society and the instruments that policy makers have at their disposal to deal with these challenges. It is written for students of the health sciences, both of curative medicine and public health, and for experts that are active in these and related domains, and it may be of interest for the educated layman since the technical level is kept relatively low.

This book is meant for adoption in first courses on epidemiology in Medical Schools and Faculties of Public Health in developing and transition countries and in workshops in these countries, taught for example by members of international organizations. It is also suitable for parallel or second reading within curricula in developed countries and for teaching epidemiology in a Master’s programme on “International Health”. The book will enable any lecturer to compose his or her introductory courses on epidemiology by selecting the material deemed appropriate. It will provide a solid foundation for more advanced teaching.

The intended readership consists in the first place of general medical students; students following the programme “Preventive Physician” that runs parallel to general medical studies in some countries; students starting to specialize in Public Health; and lecturers in epidemiology. The book can also serve well as an introduction into epidemiology for anybody else interested in this field, for example staff of health institutions.

Examples and practical work are taken from the present situation of health in Vietnam, which can easily be adapted to any other developing or transition country.

​This unique textbook presents the field of modern epidemiology as a whole; it does not restrict itself to particular aspects. It stresses the fundamental ideas and their role in any situation of epidemiologic practice. Its structure is largely determined by didactic viewpoints.

Epidemiology is the art of defining and investigating the influence of factors on the health of populations. Hence the book starts by sketching the role of epidemiology in public health. It then treats the epidemiology of many particular diseases; mathematical modelling of epidemics and immunity; health information systems; statistical methods and sample surveys; clinical epidemiology including clinical trials; nutritional, environmental, social, and genetic epidemiology; and the habitual tools of epidemiologic studies. The book also reexamines the basic difference between the epidemiology of infectious diseases and that of non-infectious ones.

The organization of the topics by didactic aspects makes the book ideal for teaching.  All examples and case studies are situated in a single country, namely Vietnam; this provides a particularly vivid picture of the role of epidemiology in shaping the health of a population. It can easily be adapted to other developing or transitioning countries.

This volume is well suited for courses on epidemiology and public health at the upper undergraduate and graduate levels, while its specific examples make it appropriate for those who teach these fields in developing or emerging countries.

 New to this edition, in addition to minor revisions of almost all chapters:

•    Updated data about infectious and non-infectious diseases

•    An expanded discussion of genetic epidemiology

•    A new chapter, based on recent research of the authors, on how to build a coherent system of Public Health by using the insights provided by this volume.