Epidemiology, literally translated from Greek, means "the study of people".
In fact, we use the term epidemiology to mean the study of diseases in populations.
Epidemiology has three main aims:
To describe disease patterns in human populations.
To identify the causes of diseases (also known as aetiology).
To provide data essential for the management, evaluation and planning of services for the prevention, control and treatment of disease Professionals who work in the area of epidemiology are known as epidemiologists.
Epidemiology combines the disciplines of medicine, health sciences, social sciences on the one hand and statistics on the other and, to some extent detective work, to make an interesting and varied profession.