Dengue fever in the southern United States: A past and present medical geographical perspective

• Main Author: Terry, Amanda Lee
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1996
• Subjects: American history; Geography; Public health
• ISBN: 0612103269; 9780612103269

This thesis examines two questions. First, how did conceptions of disease etiology change in relation to perceived roles of the environment with specific reference to the southern United States during the period 1820-1940? Secondly, what are some of the implications for modern medical geographical research that emerge from this examination of the role of environment and health relationships? Chapter one provides an introduction and context for the major components of the rest of the thesis through a review of the literature on conceptual issues in medical geography and disease etiology. Chapter two outlines the research method used in this study and provides an overview of content analysis methodology. Chapter three explores the early history of the Carolinas, some of the ideas about the environment that colonists, including both laypersons and medical practitioners, held, as well as a discussion of germ theory and the environment. In addition, this chapter includes an overview of the historical development of Dengue fever, particularly as it related to the United States. The results of the content analysis procedure are presented in chapter four. Chapter five outlines the modern Dengue fever situation. The final chapter is a discussion of the results in relation to the present state of Dengue fever, and concludes with a discussion of some potential implications for research in medical geography.