The primary components in epidemiology include the agent, host, and environment. These elements form the epidemiologic triad, which is fundamental in understanding disease causation.
Agent: This refers to the cause of the disease, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Host: The host is the organism, typically a human or animal, that harbors the disease. Host factors like genetic susceptibility, immune status, and behavior can influence disease outcomes. Environment: This encompasses external factors that affect the agent and the opportunity for exposure, such as climate, housing, sanitation, and social factors.
