Assessment Description
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
1. Epidemiology Paper Requirements
2. 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.
3. Describe the social determinants of health and explain how those factors contribute to the development of this disease.
4. 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?
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
A minimum of three peer-reviewed or professional references is required.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
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Epidemiology Paper
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Epidemiology Paper
Introduction
Communicable diseases spread from one person to another in different ways, such as contact with contaminated blood and body fluids sneezing, and others. Communicable diseases are major health problems across the world (Webber, 2019). People develop these illnesses after being infected by different kinds of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi, which are the main types of pathogens. The severity of these diseases is based on the type of pathogen and the time it takes to seek medical attention. Communicable diseases, if not treated early, can cause life-threatening health complications. Examples of communicable illnesses include influenza, chickenpox, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, HIV, measles, and others (Webber, 2019). In that regard, the purpose of this paper is to discuss one of the communicable diseases by applying the concepts of epidemiology and public health.
The Communicable Disease: Influenza
The selected communicable disease to be discussed in this paper is influenza. It is commonly known as flu. Influenza is normally caused by the influenza virus. Influenza is, therefore, a viral infection, normally affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. The illness happens anywhere in the world, causing severe symptoms that can even lead to death (Brown, 2019). In the United States, the disease is common during the fall more than in any period of the year. There are about four commonly recognized types of influenza such as influenza A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and influenza B are mostly the ones causing significant human infections (Brown, 2019). Influenza is often recognized as a seasonal epidemic, also called flu season, every year in America.
Influenza A causes more severe disease than type B. Although type B can still be extremely harmful, it is not classified by subtype and does not normally cause pandemics. Type A is the only influenza virus known to cause flu pandemics, also known as the global pandemics of flu disease (Webber, 2019). The Influenza A virus is divided further into two major subtypes including hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). Furthermore, hemagglutinin (H) has further 18 subtypes while neuraminidase (N) has 11 further subtypes, including H1 through H18 and N1 through N11, respectively. Influenza or flu is associated with symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, running/stuffy nose, sore throat, headaches, muscle/body aches, fatigue, and bowel movement (Brown, 2019). Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are not common symptoms, the same people usually experience them.
Flu is normally passed from one person to another through tiny droplets when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or talk. Infected individuals can develop severe health complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, and ear infections (Brown, 2019). More complicated issues may include heart failure, diabetes, and asthma. Expectant women, children, and elderly people are at greater risk of developing the disease. Deaths associated with influenza across the world are terrifying. About 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths are estimated across the world. The annual epidemics cause approximately 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illnesses (CDC, 2021). Influenza treatment focuses on the elimination of several symptoms associated with the disease. Doctors can prescribe a variety of antiviral drugs such as Zanamivir to treat patients. In many states, influenza monitoring and reporting are mandatory. Doctors and public health officials monitor influenza through outbreaks reports and mortality rates (Webber, 2019). Cases should be reported immediately to the state department of health.
Social Determinants of Health
Any condition that increases the risk of influenza infection is called a social determinant of health. There are many social determinants of health associated with influenza infections such as access to health care services, fair regional distribution of healthcare resources, availability of such resources, and others (Webber, 2019). Others include age, social support, employment, and education level of people. Regarding age as a social determinant of health, children and the elderly are most likely to contract the disease than the general population. Furthermore, inadequate access to health facilities or immunization services in some parts of the country may escalate infections. The United States is known to be a hub of health inequalities among people (CDC, 2021). The inequalities make some people vulnerable to diseases like influenza.
In the United States, the Whites are more secure than minority groups health-wise. Racism and ethnicity have become major social determinants of health. Marginalized or minority groups have lower vaccine coverage compared to the majority group (Webber, 2019). The educational level of an individual affects their perception and knowledge of influenza and influenza vaccine, increasing their risk of contracting the disease. The level of education one attains also affect their socioeconomic status, hence, their ability to access healthcare services. Influenza vaccination in the United States tends to follow a social gradient, whereby those at the higher level of the social class get vaccinated more than those at the lower level. Individuals of the lower social class may not be able to afford preventive measures and timely treatment services to prevent health complications and the spread of the disease (Webber, 2019). Therefore, these social determinants of health are interconnected and have a significant influence on each other.
Epidemiologic Triangle
The epidemiological triangle is a model used by health experts to study diseases including their mode of transmission, reservoirs, the portal of exit, and others. This section will focus on the communicable disease chain for influenza and the epidemiological triangle to understand its process of transmission (Webber, 2019). The communicable disease chain has six elements including the infectious agent, reservoirs, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of re-entry, and susceptible host. To be more specific, the infectious agent is the pathogen that causes the disease. the reservoir is the environment where the pathogen thrives and may include animals, people, and insects. On the other hand, the portal of exit reflects how the pathogen exists in the reservoir (Webber, 2019). The portal of exit may include wounds, body fluids, or aerosols. The mode of transmission describes how the infectious agent is passed from one person to another. The portal of re-entry describes the infectious agent getting back into a new host. Furthermore, a susceptible host represents anyone infected by the pathogen.
Concerning influenza, the infectious agent or pathogen is the influenza virus. As indicated early, various types of influenza viruses are responsible for flu in human beings (Webber, 2019). The reservoir of the influenza virus is human beings and some animals such as gigs. As hinted above, influenza A and B are commonly found in human beings while influenza C and D majorly reside in animals. The point of exit for the virus in bodily fluids (droplets) when people cough or sneeze, or talk near a healthy person. Anybody can catch flu so long as they are exposed to the pathogen (Webber, 2019). More vulnerable people are children, the elderly, health workers, and other immunocompromised people.
The epidemiological triangle is also called the epidemiological triad. It has three corners labeled as agent, host, and environment. Time is the fourth element of the triangle, which is often indicated at the center (Webber, 2019). Some of these elements are similar to those identified in the communicable disease chain. The agent is the pathogen, which is the influenza virus. The host or susceptible host is anyone who is exposed (patients, elderly, health workers, and others). In terms of environment, moist or cold places, poorly ventilated areas, congested places, and health care settings increase the risk of spread.
Role of The Community Health Nurse
A community health nurse advocates for people within the community to improve their health status. They have a significant role in preventing and managing influenza cases. Community health nurses have various responsibilities such as data collection, reporting of new cases, case findings, data analysis, and follow-up (Webber, 2019). These methods are not only applicable to influenza alone, but also other communicable diseases. Community health nurses educate people of all backgrounds about influenza prevention and management, as well as about the influenza vaccine (Brown, 2019). Furthermore, these professionals carry out investigations and collect statistics regarding infection and mortality rates associated with influenza.
Additionally, community health nurses can organize, plan, and execute campaigns and community workshops to improve influenza prevention, vaccination, and awareness. Primary prevention is better than management because it ensures that the disease does not occur (Webber, 2019). Prevention reduced the cost of care and prevents possible health complications that would have occurred if the person contracted the disease. Data collection and analysis are important to community health nurses because they provide good insights needed to plan the community-based activities.
Besides community campaigns, the nurses also provide home treatment services to patients with influenza. Normally, patients may be asked to stay at home to reduce the spread of the disease. Home support services offered by these nurses include monitoring of vital signs, cleaning the person, drug administration, vaccination, screening services, provision of masks, family education, and others (Webber, 2019). Besides working in the community, community health nurses also work in hospitals to directly provide care to patients. Even in the hospitals they educate patients and carry out follow-ups.
The Organization Involved in Addressing Influenza Cases
Several organizations are involved in the prevention, management, and surveillance of influenza cases. The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the organizations involved in such services. The CDC is a functioning component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The organizational mission is to protect US citizens from diseases and public health threats. The CDC plays an important role in managing pandemics to prevent or reduce the spread. Influenza is among the illnesses managed and prevented by the CDC. Through different programs, the organization protects Americans from seasonal influenza pandemics (CDC, 2021). The CDC is responsible for collecting, analyzing, compiling, and publishing data on influenza every year.
The organization monitors influenza data every week to predict or detect any shift in the trend. A good example is the United State influenza surveillance system, which is a collaboration between the CDC and other different agencies of the state, local, and territorial health departments (CDC, 2021). CDC in partnership with other institutions helps in creating awareness and mobilization of influenza vaccine, treatment of patients, and reporting influenza incidences. The agency collaborates with clinical laboratories, public health, vital statistics offices, hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
The other organization that is useful in addressing influenza cases is the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). It is another organization working in collaboration with the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ILINet providers report each week the total number of patients seen for any reason and the number of patient visits for ILI by age group (0-4 years, 5-24 years, 25-49 years, 50-64 years, >64 years). The ILINet providers can be healthcare workers in any specialty. The organization operates in all the 50 states of the United States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization reported approximately about 85 million patient visits during the 2020-2021 season (CDC, 2021). The information gathered is used by the CDC to give appropriate advice and preventive measures. Therefore, these organizations work in collaboration with one another to improve health and reduce incidences of influenza.
The Global Implication of Influenza
Influenza disease is a concern in the face of the world. The global infection rates are between 3 million and 5 million cases of influenza every year. Influenza is among the most common infections in the world (Brown, 2019). About 5-10% of adults are suffering from influenza. Furthermore, about 20-30% of children across the world have influenza at a given time. Besides the high rates of infections, influenza is associated with the financial burden of treatment, disability, comorbidities, and even deaths. The Sub-Saharan region is an example of a place that has experienced the heavy burden of influenza (CDC, 2021). The disease management in this area has been rated poor due to insufficient knowledge among citizens.
Countries around these regions also face serious financial constraints which is another hindrance to the effective management of influenza disease. Both in developing and developed countries, influenza is managed through different ways such as vaccination, social distancing, isolation or quarantine, and patient treatment measures (CDC, 2021). Patient education and community education are also critical in preventing and managing influenza. These strategies have not been exploited to their full potential in areas where influenza is still escalating.
Influenza cases have terrorized the world several times, causing many deaths. The most recognized and severe case of influenza in history is the 1918 influenza pandemic. The HINI strain of the influenza virus is commonly associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic (CDC, 2021). Available data estimates that more than 500 million people were infected and more than 50 million deaths were recorded. Morality rates during the influenza pandemic were higher in people aged 20-40 years old and those above 65 years (CDC, 2021). This trend in mortality rate is a unique feature of the pandemic.
Conclusion
Communicable diseases are a major concern across the world. These illnesses spread from one person to another in different ways, such as contact with contaminated blood and body fluids sneezing, and others. Influenza is one of the most common communicable diseases in the world. Various forms of influenza virus include types A, B, C, and D. The communicable disease chain model is widely used to understand the transmission of influenza and other communicable diseases. Community nurses play an important role in the prevention and management of the disease. Organizations such as the CDC and the ILINet also play an important role in addressing such issues. Influenza has negative implications on people, hence, proper management and prevention measures are recommended.
References
Brown, J. (2019). Influenza: The hundred-year hunt to cure the deadliest disease in history. Atria Books.
CDC. (2021). U.S. Influenza Surveillance: Purpose and Methods. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/overview.htm
Webber. (2019). Communicable diseases: A global perspective. CABI.