Epidemiologist names: Claire & Abby 

Date: 2/16/17 

Outbreak Pathogen: From carrots at kindergarten graduation (4-12) 

Where: Smithville 

 

1) Final hypothesis: Some type of food from Smithville Elementary school is the cause of the whole E.Coli outbreak. Symptoms came at a later date.  

2) Final Case Definition:Patients, ages ranging 4-60, both male and female, who ate carrots at the elementary school on April 12 may develop symptoms including but not limited to, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and HUS.  

3) Summary of Outbreak: The carrots at the kindergarten graduation were the source of this E.Coli outbreak. Nobody died, but at least one case was severe.   

4) How was it controlled:Once it was discovered that the carrots were the source, everyone in Smithville was informed. Everyone who ate carrots ate the kindergarten graduation were brought into the hospital for testing.  

5) What could you do to make sure this doesn’t happen again:Visit the carrot farm and distribution plant, see what is happening and why this outbreak occurred. Maybe tell people to not ever eat carrots again.  *****Really? Never eat carrots?

 

Epidemiology reflection 

2.      Even after you maintain good oral hygiene you will still need to visit your dentist once in six months. Irregular dental check-ups may cause a few tell-tale signs of impending tooth loss to go unnoticed. You may not notice the hard deposits below the gum line or a slight mobility in your teeth that need to be professionally treated. A slightly mobile tooth can be saved if treated on time.

3.      A stitch in time saves nine. And it wouldn’t be truer when it comes to getting your decayed teeth filled. Not getting teeth with caries treated can worsen the condition over time. It may irritate the inner pulp of your teeth leading to the death of the pulp tissue and pus formation around the roots of the teeth. In severe cases your dentist may not be able to save your teeth.

4.      Poor nutrition withlack of certain nutrients in your diet can decrease your mouth’s resistance to infection. Calcium is responsible for mineral density of bone supporting the teeth. Decreased calcium intake affect tooth retention and has been associated with increased risk of tooth loss. Additionally, diets rich in sugar, carbohydrates and acids damage your teeth and gums

5.      Have you ever had your tooth ‘knocked out’ from a fall during your childhood? Even if the tooth does not fall off due to trauma, it may cause root fracture which may develop infection months or years later. The infection may cause the root to resorb and subsequently cause loss of tooth. Contact sports like boxing, football, etc. can cause trauma that can fracture or injure a tooth leading to tooth loss.

6.      Tooth grinding (bruxism) can wear down or chip your teeth and put excess force on the tissues supporting the teeth ultimately causing bone loss. Once your teeth lose their supporting bone, they become mobile and fall off.

7.      What’s not replacing lost teeth got to do with losing more teeth? Not replacing lost teethcan cause a chain of events that can damage other teeth. When a tooth is lost, it causes the bone surrounding it to resorb. If the lost teeth are not replaced the opposite and the adjacent teeth get displaced into the empty space and cause gum problems which ultimately lead to the loss of other teeth. Tooth loss also puts pressure on the remaining teeth, which can lead to their fracture from excessive wear and overloading.

8.      Not correcting malocclusions (improper position of teeth) can also cause tooth loss. Wondering how? If your teeth are not well aligned, it is very difficult to effectively clean them. Such teeth become more prone to tartar deposits leading to gum and periodontal problems which are major causes of tooth loss.

9.      The ill effects of smoking and drinking alcohol are well known. According to researchers, smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers! Smoking or using smokeless tobacco, alcohol increase your risk of developing gum disease which in turn can lead to tooth loss. Smoking affects the blood supply to your gums and aggravates severity of periodontal disease.

10.  You may be aware that diabetes can damage your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and reduce the body’s resistance to infection and slow the healing process. But did you know that it can affect your teeth and gums too? Diabetes reduces your body’s immunity which in turn increases plaque formation. Gum disease can happen more often, be more severe, and take longer to heal. In advanced stages of gum disease there is loss of bone and connective tissue in the mouth, which results in tooth loss.

Solutions:
Dental Implants
Dental Bridges
Removable Partial Dentures