Observation

Many candidates could not differentiate between endemic, epidemic and pandemic. Many made mistakes by wrongly explaining epidemic as pandemic, while many had no idea of what endemic is. Sequential steps in administration of First Aid to an epileptic victim were not followed by many candidates.

The expected answers are:

(a)      Explanation of  terms

• Endemic

-           The regular / persistent presence of an infectious disease
-           among a particular group of people / in a certain area
-           over a considerable time period

(ii)       Epidemic

• A sudden outbreak of an infectious disease
• which spreads quickly among a large number of people / in a certain area
• at a given / particular time.                                        
• Pandemic

-           The outbreak of an infectious disease
-           which occurs in many countries / on a large scale / affects large number of people                                                                        
-           at the same time                                             

 (b)       Description of First Aid care to a victim of epileptic fits

• the victim lies down on the ground
• the head should not be raised up
• allow plenty of air around the victim
• the victim should be prevented from biting his/her tongue
• watch the time the victim regains consciousness / stay with the victim until consciousness is regained
• send the victim to the hospital