Question

Write a paper (2,000-2,500 words) in which you apply the concepts of epidemiology and nursing research to a communicable disease. Refer to "Communicable Disease Chain," "Chain of Infection," and the CDC website for assistance when completing this assignment.

Communicable Disease Selection

1. Chickenpox
2. Tuberculosis
3. Influenza
4. Mononucleosis
5. Hepatitis B
6. HIV
7. Ebola
8. Measles
9. Polio
10. Influenza

Epidemiology Paper Requirements

1. Describe the chosen communicable disease, including causes, symptoms, mode of transmission, complications, treatment, and the demographic of interest (mortality, morbidity, incidence, and prevalence). Is this a reportable disease? If so, provide details about reporting time, whom to report to, etc.
2. Describe the social determinants of health and explain how those factors contribute to the development of this disease.
3. Discuss the epidemiologic triangle as it relates to the communicable disease you have selected. Include the host factors, agent factors (presence or absence), and environmental factors. Are there any special considerations or notifications for the community, schools, or general population?
4. Explain the role of the community health nurse (case finding, reporting, data collection, data analysis, and follow-up) and why demographic data are necessary to the health of the community.
5. Identify at least one national agency or organization that addresses the communicable disease chosen and describe how the organizations contribute to resolving or reducing the impact of disease.
6. Discuss a global implication of the disease. How is this addressed in other countries or cultures? Is this disease endemic to a particular area? Provide an example.

Answer 1

tuberculosis is a communicable disease spread by mycobacterium tuberculosis.

causes or risk factors of tuberculosis:

• persons with low immune system such hiv infection, diabetes mellitus, severe renal disease, malnutrition, cancer
• people who are in close contact with an infected persons
• homeless people
• people with drug abuse

symptoms:

• cough more than 3 weeks
• chest pain
• blood in the sputum
• fever
• weakness
• chills
• weight loss
• night sweats

mode of transmission:

• it is an airborne disease
• spreads by travel of microbes through air from one indivdual to another

complications:

if untreated tb spreads to other parts of the body such as lung, liver and brain.

treatment:

tuberculosis could be treated with antitubercular drugs such as rifampin or rifapentin. vaccines could be used such as bacilli calmette gurrein in order to prevent the occurrence.

demographic of interest:

the incidence is 2 percent, prevalence is 23 percent and mortality is around 10 million.

yes, this is a reportable disease. in order to report this, health department at community, state and country levels must coordinate throgh health survey reports.

social determinants:

• poverty
• poor ventilation
• crowded environment
• malnutrition
• substance abuse

epidemiological triangle:

host factors:

poor nutrition, weak immune system, coinfections such as hiv, diabetes, renal disorders, previous or recent tb infection

agent:

mycobacterium tubercle- acid fast bacilli

environmental factors:

poverty, crowded environment, substance abuse, migrants

role of community health nurse:

case finding :screening must be done for close contact or household contacts of tb patients, people with hiv infection, people working in silica exposed areas.

case reporting: cases found must be reported to community health centres or referred to district hospital for futher treatment

data collection must be carried out under strict control environment and could be compared between cases and control or cross sectional surveys.

data analysis could be carrried out using descriptive and inferential statistics by mean, standard deviation, confidence interval and chisquare

follow up of the cases must be carried out to find any complications or problems ruled out.

national agency for tuberculosis:united states agency for international development

global burden of tuberculosis: tb is considered to be one of top 10 disease which accounts for morbidity and mortality among global population.

tuberculosis endemic countries: around 30 countries with india, pakisthan, nigeria, china, bangladesh, indonesia and south africa at the top numbers.