How Do Epidemiologists Track Non-Specific Symptoms?
Epidemiologists utilize various methods to track non-specific symptoms among populations. One common approach is through __syndromic surveillance__, which involves the real-time collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. This data can come from multiple sources, including emergency department visits, over-the-counter medication sales, and school absenteeism records. By monitoring these indicators, epidemiologists can identify unusual patterns or clusters of non-specific symptoms that may signal an outbreak.