What are the Components of the Epidemiologic Triad?
The triad consists of three primary elements:
- Agent: This is the cause of the disease, which can be a pathogen such as a bacterium, virus, parasite, or fungus. Agents can also be physical or chemical entities that cause health issues, like toxins and pollutants. - Host: The host is the organism, usually a human or animal, that harbors the disease. Host factors such as age, sex, genetic makeup, immune status, and behaviors can influence susceptibility to the agent. - Environment: This includes external factors that affect the agent and the opportunity for exposure. Environmental factors can be physical, such as climate and geography, or social, such as living conditions and healthcare availability.
