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
Chickenpox
Tuberculosis
Influenza
Mononucleosis
Hepatitis B
HIV
Ebola
Measles
Polio
Influenza
Epidemiology Paper Requirements
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.
Describe the social determinants of health and explain how those factors contribute to the development of this disease.
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?
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.
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.
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.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance.
Attachments
https://halo.gcu.edu/resource/b3795efd-ef80-4067-998c-17435a995c46- the link to COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Epidemiology Paper
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Epidemiology Paper
Introduction
Communicable diseases are a major threat across the world. Communicable diseases spread from one person to another through various ways such as physical contact, breathing or sneezing, contact with contaminated blood and body fluids. And others. People often develop communicable diseases after being infected by the pathogen (Brown, 2019). Four main types of pathogens cause communicable diseases such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists. Some communicable diseases only cause mild symptoms that resolve without treatment. However, others can cause severe symptoms associated with potentially life-threatening complications. Communicable diseases include chickenpox, tuberculosis, influenza, mononucleosis, hepatitis B, HIV, and many more (Brown, 2019). The purpose of this paper is to apply the concepts of epidemiology and nursing research to communicable diseases.
Influenza
Influenza is commonly known as flu, and it is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. It is a viral infection that infects the respiratory system including the nose, throat, and lungs. Influenza can cause mild to severe symptoms and may lead to death at times (CDC, 2021). The disease is more common in the US during the fall of winter than at other times of the year. There are four types of influenza such as influenza A, influenza B, influenza C, influenza D. Influenza A and B majorly affect humans and cause significant health problems to individuals (CDC, 2021). They are known to cause seasonal epidemics of illness, known as flue reason, every year in the United States.
Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics; the global epidemics of flu disease. Influenza A is further divided into two main subtypes such as hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes (H1 through H18 and N1 through N11, respectively) (CDC, 2021). Influenza C also causes mild respiratory illness, however, not known to cause epidemics. Symptoms associated with influenza or flu include fever/chills, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, gastrointestinal changes, and fatigue. Some people might experience vomiting and diarrhea, though they are not common symptoms (CDC, 2021). Influenza can be transmitted between humans through tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk.
People who have influenza can develop certain health complications such as dehydration, pneumonia, and ear infections. Influenza can also worsen some health conditions such as heart failure, asthma, and diabetes. children are more likely to get sick from influenza (Brown, 2019). Pregnant women, the elderly, and children are at greater risk when infected. Worldwide, these annual epidemics are estimated to result in about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness, and about 290 000 to 650 000 respiratory deaths (Brown, 2019). Treatment focuses on the elimination of symptoms, such as fever. Antivirals such as Zanamivir may be prescribed at the individual level. Influenza is often monitored through certain aspects such as overall mortality rates and outbreak reports. It is mandatory in most states to report influenza outbreaks to the state health department. Reporting should be as soon as possible.
Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are factors or conditions that increase the risk of being susceptible to influenza. The general social determinants include safety of the public, access to health care services, and availability of resources to improve population health (Brown, 2019). Age, employment, social support, and education are other examples of social determinants of health. Age is a social determinant of influenza. Children and older individuals are at greater risk of contracting influenza compared to the general population. Access to health care and influenza vaccination are some of the important ways to prevent severe influenza (Brown, 2019). However, inequalities in the United States have rendered disadvantaged people vulnerable to influenza by imposing institutional and structural barriers to vaccination and antiviral treatment.
Ethnicity and race are social determinants in the sense that black Americans and Latinos are less likely to be vaccinated than are white Americans. This means that marginalized and minority groups have lower vaccine coverage, particularly, for influenza. The educational level of individuals is likely to affect their knowledge of influenza (Brown, 2019). Personal perception and knowledge of vaccines account for the risk of contracting influenza. Additionally, educational attainment significantly influences socioeconomic status in the United States, and influenza vaccination has been indicated to follow a clear social gradient (Brown, 2019). Workplace policies have effects on influenza infection rates. For instance, when the vaccine is not there, workers should maintain social distancing to reduce the spread. Additionally, every workplace should encourage vaccination to reduce the rate of infection. People from low socioeconomic status may not afford preventive measures, or even timely treatment leading to more spread and more complicated medical conditions (Brown, 2019). Therefore, these social determinants of health must be taken into consideration when dealing with issues regarding flu.
Epidemiologic Triangle
The epidemiologic triangle is a model used by scientists to study health conditions to help them understand infectious disease and their mode of transmission. Apart from the triangle, a communicable disease chain is also an excellent model for analyzing health conditions or illnesses (Brown, 2019). The model has six components such as infectious agent, reservoirs, portal of exit, means of transmission, portal of re-entry, and susceptible host. The infectious agent is the pathogen that causes the disease, the reservoir is placed in the environment that keeps the pathogen: which may include people, animals, and insects. The Portal of exit is how the infectious pathogen leaves the reservoir. It could include open wounds, aerosols, and body fluids. The mode of transmission, on the other hand, is the way the infectious agent is passed from one individual to another. The Portal of exit explains how the infectious agent enters a new host (Brown, 2019). Last but not least, a susceptible host can be anyone, especially, the most vulnerable.
When applying the communicable disease chain in the case of influenza, the infectious agent is the influenza virus. Various strains of influenza virus are responsible for flu. The reservoir includes human beings and some animals such as a pig. Influenza A and B are commonly found in human beings while C and D are in animals (CDC, 2021). The virus exits reservoirs through bodily fluids and airborne. Additionally, influenza viruses are transmitted by infected individuals when they cough or sneeze, or talk near a healthy person. The Portal of entry of these viruses is through the respiratory tract when the infected individuals cough, sneeze, talk near a healthy person. Anyone can contract flu, however, immunosuppressed individuals are more susceptible (CDC, 2021). Health care workers and hospitalized patients are also at risk of developing influenza.
The epidemiologic triangle, on the other hand, has three corners labeled as agent, host, and environment. At the center of the triangle is the fourth element, which is time. Influenza entails various strains that infect the upper respiratory tract of human beings (CDC, 2021). Based on the Epi triangle for influenza, the infectious agent includes the influenza virus, which is contracted from infected persons or other infected sources. The susceptible hosts include anyone who is exposed, patients, and healthcare workers (CDC, 2021). Cold or moist places, congested places, healthcare settings, and improperly ventilated buildings are all environments that increase the risk of spread.
Role of The Community Health Nurse
Community nurses have significant roles in various aspects of managing and addressing influenza. Some of the roles a community nurse can perform include case finding, data collection, reporting, follow-up, and data analysis (St. John & Keleher, 2021). Reporting cases and carrying out investigations are not only important for influenza but also other communicable diseases. Community nurses have the responsibility of collecting statistics regarding the rate of infections and mortality rates related to influenza infections (St. John & Keleher, 2021). Nurses are responsible for educating populations or communities about influenza, prevention, and home remedy, as well as encouraging them to receive the influenza vaccine.
Community nurses can design or plan campaigns and workshops for community members to impact their understanding of influenza. Preventive measures are the best approach to care (St. John & Keleher, 2021). Primary prevention ensures the illness does not occur, hence, reducing the cost of treatment and preventing damages due to illnesses. Hence data collection and analysis can give good insights required for planning and education. Community nurses have a responsibility to find and identify every case of influenza in the community and report such cases to relevant authorities (St. John & Keleher, 2021). As stated above, the epidemiology data collected and analyzed by community health nurses are used to plan for treatment and educational services to improve community health and reduce influenza infection rates.
Community nurses provide in-home treatment and support to patients suffering from influenza. The patients are often asked to stay at home to avoid the further spread of the disease. They also carry out follow-ups for the individuals (St. John & Keleher, 2021). Some of the home support community nurses provide include blood pressure monitoring, pain management, and medication administration. The professionals also conduct screenings and distribute vaccines, and give masks to the public. Apart from working in community outreach and health promotion programs, community nurses also work in hospitals and health centers to directly provide care to patients. In hospitals, the performance assessment, administer medications, carry outpatient education, and carry out follow ups to ensure proper recovery (St. John & Keleher, 2021). The data helps determine when and where the incidences are occurring, the type of influenza virus is spreading, detect changes in influenza viruses, and identify the impact of influenza on hospitalization and deaths.
The Organization Involved in Addressing Influenza
The centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major functioning components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The mission of the CDC is to work twenty-four hours a week to protect Americans from health, security, and safety threats (CDC, 2021). The CDC pledges to treat all persons with dignity, honesty, and respect. The main responsibility of the CDC is to fight disease and support communities and the public to do the same. CDC also deals with pandemics to reduce the spread and impacts on the health of individuals (CDC, 2021). Influenza is among some of the illnesses CDC tries to manage and prevent.
The CDC’s influenza programs protect the United States from seasonal influenza and influenza pandemics, which usually happen when there is the emergence of a new virus, which can spread globally if not properly contained. According to CDC (2021), the department of influenza CDC is responsible for collecting, compiling, and analyzing data on influenza activity every year. CDC monitors influenza data weekly to detect any shift and possible pandemics. The United State influenza surveillance system is an example of a collaborative effort between the CDC and partnerships with various agencies of the state, local, and territorial health departments. CDC also collaborates with clinical laboratories, public health, vital statistics offices, hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, and long-term care facilities (CDC, 2021). These institutions help in mobilizing the influenza vaccine, reporting influenza cases, and treatment of patients.
The U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) is another organization partnering with CDC to control and manage influenza. The ILINet operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (CDC, 2021). It consists of all healthcare providers from the named places. The client reported approximately about 85 million patient visits during the 2020-2021 season. The data collected are used by the government, CDC, state departments of health, and other stakeholders to prevent, control, and manage influenza (CDC, 2021). Therefore, the organization plays important role in ensuring public health.
The Global Implication of Influenza
Influenza has detrimental impacts across the world. It is one of the illnesses with the highest infections rates in the world. about 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children have influenza (CDC, 2021). Annually, the world experience between 3 million and 5 million influenza case. Additionally, influenza is associated with about one million deaths every year. Besides, the disease is associated with burden associated with costs burden, disabilities, deaths, and morbidities (CDC, 2021). The management of influenza in the sub-Saharan region of Africa has been poor due to a lack of knowledge among citizens and financial constraints of the people around the region. However, in other countries, just as in the US, influenza is managed by the vaccine, quarantine, social distancing, and treatment measures. Community or patient education is also an effective preventive measure (CDC, 2021). These strategies are also used in the sub-Saharan region of Africa.
There have been influenza pandemics and they have affected the world in tremendous ways. THE 1918 influenza pandemic is considered the most severe in recent history. The pandemic was caused by an H1N1 virus (CDC, 2021). It was first identified in the US among military personnel. Available data estimates that about 500 million people were infected with the virus. About 50 million deaths were recorded worldwide. Mortality rates were high among children younger than 5 years old. It was also high among people aged 20-40 years old as well as among 65 years old (CDC, 2021). The high mortality rates among people aged 20-40, including healthy people is a unique feature of the pandemic.
Conclusion
A communicable disease is a major concern elsewhere in the world. These diseases are passed from one person to another through contact, and droplets when one coughs, sneezes, or talks, among other several ways. The selected communicable disease is influenza. Some of the social determinants of health affecting the disease include age, employment, social support, and education are other examples of social determinants of health. A communicable disease chain was used to analyze the nature of the illness from an epidemiological perspective. Community nurses have an important role to play in improving health. CDC plays a major role in managing and preventing influenza in the US. The disease has negative global implications based on previous pandemics.
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
St, John. W., & Keleher, H. (2021). Community nursing practice: Theory, skills and issues. Routledge.