...Chicken Pox: Varicella-Zoster- Its Epidemiology Grand Canyon University A communicable disease that affects any age group is Varicella, or more commonly known as Chicken Pox. This contagious disease is caused by the Varicella-Zoster Virus. A person who has not had the virus, or has been vaccinated with chicken pox can get the disease. Symptoms of chicken pox include high fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headaches. Chicken pox causes fluid filled blisters that show up on the face, chest and back, then spreading onto the rest of the body. The fluid filled blisters eventually turns into scabs as the disease progresses. A person who received the chicken pox vaccine can get the virus, but with a mild case of the symptoms such as a low grade fever and less blisters. (CDC 2011) The virus can be spread through the air as when someone who is infected cough or sneezes. The virus can also be transmitted when coming in close contact with someone that is infected. Therefore, an individual who becomes infected would be precaution towards contact, airborne and droplet protocols. A person can be contagious 1 to 2 days prior to visible signs of the virus, such as the blisters showing up. Afterwards, they will remain contagious until the blisters have formed into scabs. Complications to the virus may rise with those that have a weak immune system such as infants or people with HIV/AIDS. Others, such as pregnant woman, are also at a higher risk of complications if coming into...
Words: 1414 - Pages: 6
...Thesis How has Chicken Pox evolved over time related to advances in community and public health nursing? Chicken Pox is a very common childhood disease caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. This contagious itchy red rash covers the entire body with red blistery spots causing discomfort (Web MD 2013). Immunization, education, awareness and the epidemiology of Chicken Pox has made drastic improvement in the occurrence and mortality of disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014). Description of Communicable Disease Chicken Pox can be easily transmitted from one person to the next by means of sneezing, coughing, saliva and surface contact (Web MD 2013). The fluid filled blisters rupture and accelerates the probability of transmission by contact. This disease is contagious 2-3 days prior to the rash appearing having an impact on how quickly this disease is transmitted due to the patient being asymptomatic (Web MD 2013). The ones who remain most at risk are those who’ve never had the disease or obtained a vaccine. The preliminary symptoms start to appear 14-16 days after contact with someone who had the disease (Web MD 2013). Symptoms include flu like symptoms with a fever, decreased appetite, headache, cough and sore throat. The itchy red spots appear taking approximately 2 days to go through the stages of blistering, bursting, drying and crusting over (Web MD 2013). Spots continue to appear everyday for about one week. It will take about one and half...
Words: 1520 - Pages: 7
...the detriments of health from the chickenpox virus. The epidemiologic triangle will be outlined as it depicts the chickenpox virus. The aspect of the community health nurse will be discussed and information on a national organization for infectious diseases will be provided. Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the virus varicella-zoster. The varicella-zoster virus is spread through the air by coughing or sneezing and can also be spread by touching the blisters or inhaling particles from the blisters ("CDC," n.d.). Chicken pox (varicella) is a highly contagious virus. The reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus) is called shingles. It usually is dominant in the nervous system for years or decades. Shingles (varicella-zoster) is spread through direct contact with fluid from the blisters and causes chickenpox if the person who comes in contact with the fluid from the blisters has never had the virus ("CDC," n.d.). Early symptoms of chickenpox may include fever, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite and body aches with the appearance of itchy red rash usually occurs one to two days later. The rash usually last about five to ten days and heals with scabs ("National Foundation for Infectious Diseases," n.d.). Shingles symptoms are manifested as a painful vesicle filled rash to one side of the body. This usually occurs on the trunk or face. Numbness may be present for several days prior to outbreak. Shingles blisters scab over in about seven...
Words: 1400 - Pages: 6
...Chicken Pox Grand Canyon University NRS 427 Concepts in Community and Public Health 4/4/15 Abstract Chicken pox, also called varicella, is a contagious illness that causes red spots that itch and some blister all over the body. We are going to take a closer look into how this is passed, the signs and symptoms, and who it effects the most. Most children receive the vaccination for Chicken pox at an early age. Adults can receive the vaccination as well, and the chicken pox vaccination requires to separate doses of the vaccine. Chicken pox is highly contagious to people who have yet to be exposed to the virus. Chicken Pox Determinates of health are referring to “The range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status”, according to healthypeople.gov. These factors include things like policy making, social factors, health services, individual behaviors, biology and genetics. If people live in a society where their community doesn’t care about making their neighborhood/community a safer environment it can affect determinates of health. People who don’t take action to bring light the issues their community faces will suffer far more in terms of health and economy. Someone getting sick all the time, and unable to afford the proper medications to get back to work brings our economy down, because in the end the taxpayers end up picking up the cost. Chicken pox was at one time a big issue in communities all over the USA. We finally...
Words: 1260 - Pages: 6
...Chicken Pox - Epidemiology Paper By Brett Birkeland Grand Canyon University NRS-427V July 29, 2015 Chicken Pox - Epidemiology Paper In this paper, the nurse author will discuss the communicable disease called Varicella, also known as chicken pox. The nurse author will discuss the causes, symptoms, and mode of transmission, complications, and treatment, as well as mortality, morbidity, incidence, and prevalence of the disease. The determinants of health will be described, and the factors that add to the progression of the disease. The epidemiologic triangle, as it relates to Varicella, will be examined, including host factors, absence or presence of agent factors, along with environmental influences. The role of the community health nurse will be discussed as related to case finding, data collecting, reporting, data analysis, and follow-up. Lastly, a national agency or organization will be revealed that addresses chicken pox, and how it contributes to resolving or reducing the impact of the disease on the public. The infectious disease of varicella, or chicken pox, is very contagious. A virus named varicella-zoster causes it. Furthermore, chickenpox can also be spread from those who have shingles. Since the same virus causes shingles, caution should be taken since an individual with shingles can infect those who have never had chickenpox, or those who have not been vaccinated against the disease. People most at risk to contract the disease are those who...
Words: 1449 - Pages: 6
...University: NRS-427V June 7, 2014 Chickenpox is disease caused by the virus varicella-zoster. It is most common in children under the age of fifteen but still possible for older children and adults to obtain. Chickenpox appears as an itchy red rash all over the body, the rash can turn into fluid filled blisters other symptoms include, fevers, headaches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Chickenpox is very contagious and can be spread even when there are no symptoms. Varicella incubation period is fourteen to sixteen days from time of exposure but potentially could be ten to twenty-one days (CDC, 2013). The mode of transmission for varicella is direct contact of the blisters, or through the respiratory system. The earliest signs and symptoms is are first fever and then a red rash. In children the rash may be noticed first before the fever. The rash begins as macules, to papules, vesicles, pustules, and then crusts over. Once the rash becomes crusted over the chickenpox is no longer contagious. Chickenpox can be in different stages of the disease process while some may be crust over and be non contagious there may be other blisters that are still active and contagious. Chickenpox can also be spread from an individual who has shingles. Complications of chickenpox are bacterial skin infections in children and adults pneumonia (these are the most common they may occur vice versa) (CDC, 2013). According to the Center for Disease and Control Preventions more serious complications...
Words: 1501 - Pages: 7
...NURSING ISSUES AND HOMELESS YOUTH PRESENTED BY MICHELLE ALLEN AND LORI UMENHOFER I. Research and Awareness A. Homeless youth face the same issues faced by children in the general population, but their issues are exacerbated by the circumstances inherent to their homeless status. B. As touched upon in the skit, some of the health care issues especially prevalent in the homeless youth population are psychosocial issues, nutrition issues, communicable diseases, dermatological disorders, respiratory disorders, dental health issues, sexual health issues, substance abuse issues, and issues related to medication adherence. II. Psychosocial Issues A. Multiple studies have identified the adverse effects of homelessness on children’s psychosocial health. 1. Kern Medical Center Study – In comparison to other poor children who have never been homeless, there is increased risk for depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and academic problems in homeless children. B. Women who are homeless during pregnancy usually do not have access to prenatal care, are often undernourished, and are often substance abusers – all of which leads to low birth weight babies with neurobehavioral problems predisposing them to lower academic achievement and behavioral issues at higher rates than children who are not homeless. C. Studies such as those carried out by the Health Care for the Homeless Clinician’s Network show that, for children who are homeless with their families, under stimulation by...
Words: 1072 - Pages: 5
...[pic] TERM PAPER ON Give the detailed mechanism of chicken pox Course Name: INTRODUCTION of health & disease Course Code: Phr883 Submitted To: Submitted By: MISS ANANIA ARJUNA Nagesh MR.RAHUL BHASKAR Reg. No: 3050071035 Seat no-46 B.Tech-M.Tech Sem-7th(cse) TABLE OF CONTENT |S.NO |C0NTENT |PAGE NO. | |1 |chickenpox: AN INTRODUCTION |3 | |2 |causes of Chicken Pox |3 | |3 |How chickenpox spread |3-4 | |4 |Chickenpox Transmission |4 | |5 |Who gets chickenpox |5 | |6 |The symptoms of chickenpox ...
Words: 2740 - Pages: 11
...Epidemiology is the study of a disease that is in a large population. There are many diseases that exist today and existed in the past that health professionals have interfered with and had these diseases come to a halt. Epidemiology isn't fully about the study of the disease itself, but it mostly comes in relation with the processes of the disease. Also not only is it about processes but it also about the cure and the curing of patients of the disease. People that inherent the epidemiological approach, they study the frequency of occurrence of the disease in the population. The epidemiologist has a belief that studying the interactions of the disease it will be possible to change and manipulate some of the determinants involved and reduce the amount of times the disease occurs in the population. One the diseases that provide epidemiologists the opportunity to study the disease and provide intervention is chicken pox. Also known as varicella, chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus. The disease leaves patients with a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which scab over. This disease usually starts at the face and then quickly develops to the chest and back and then spreads to the rest of the body. Chickenpox is usually seen in younger children in middle school and younger. This disease is not as severe in children as it is in adults. There are many symptoms of this disease. Many symptoms include fever...
Words: 1416 - Pages: 6
...youth. Each year, more than 1.35 million children and youth experience life without a home, and one out of seven of all individuals treated by homeless health care projects is a child under age 15 (National Healthcare for the Homeless Council [NHCHC], 2003, p.1). Homeless children face the same illnesses faced by children in the general population, but their health issues are exacerbated by the circumstances inherent in their homeless status. Homelessness in and of itself is an independent predictor of poor health status among children (Kern Medical Center, 2003, p.3). Some of the health care issues especially prevalent in the homeless youth population are: psychosocial issues, nutrition and issues related to physical development, communicable diseases, dermatological disorders, respiratory disorders, dental health issues, sexual health issues, substance abuse issues, and issues related to medication use and adherence. Multiple studies have identified the adverse effects of homelessness on children’s psychosocial health including aspects of development, academic success, behavior, and mental health. In comparison to other poor children who have never been homeless, there is increased risk for depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, and academic problems in homeless children (Kern Medical Center, 2003, p. 4). In addition, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, drug...
Words: 1364 - Pages: 6
...(M1) Communicable diseases are very contagious and can spread very easily from one person to another person, this also includes from animal to person. You can get infected straight away just by touching, eating, drinking or breathing in a substance that has a lot of germs on it. Communicable diseases are caused by agents such as bacteria, parasites, protozoa, fungus and virus. Bacteria exist on every surface including in the air and below sea level. Most bacteria are harmless but others are harmful to our body and can do bad to your health and internal organs, kidneys and the heart. Bacteria can invade into the body via the mouth, sexual organs, nose, eyes or any cuts which need to be cleaned and dressed. Bacteria can enter the body if food is full of bacteria or it isn’t cooked properly, this is called E.Coli. E.Coli is type of bacteria that causes the person to become seriously sick and possibly kill them. A bacterium causes infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. On the other hand, Viruses depend on the host to survive, grow and reproduce. Usually, a host can be an animal or a plan. Viruses are believed to be the smallest microbes on this planet. Once the virus is inside the body it can spread and make the person very ill. ‘‘They reproduce by injecting their genes into the cell to reproduce thousands of new viruses. Viruses cause chicken pox and flue.’’ (Hillendale Health n.d) Viruses can also cause Measles, Influenza and common cold. Fungi are multi-celled...
Words: 887 - Pages: 4
...rubella virus. Symptoms of the rubella infection typically only last 3 days and are often referred to as the “3 day measles”. 4. In order to check the immune status of the client the test would be checking for IgG antibodies. The absence of IgG rubella antibodies indicates that the person has likely not been exposed to the rubella virus or vaccine. IgG are also the only antibodies that can cross the placenta to protect the fetus. 5. To test for a current rubella infection using only the IgG antibody test the physician should order the initial IgG for a baseline and then perform the test again in 2-3 weeks to check if there was a significant increase (titer) present. An increase would indicate recent or current infection. Case 1.2 1. Lyme disease caused by the Borrelia burgorferi bacteria. This type of bacteria is not classified as either gram-negative or positive but because of the spirochetes doublemembrane envelope the organism is often classified gram-negative. 2. The client most likely acquired her infection through the bite of an infected tick while at summer camp. 3. The diagnosis would have...
Words: 1503 - Pages: 7
...Communicable Disease HCS 457 Communicable Disease Chickenpox is one of the many highly communicable diseases. This communicable disease is cause by a virus called varicella-zoster which has a resemblance with the herpes virus. It can be transmitted through close contact with the fluids from the blisters or through air wherein the virus is disseminated by coughing or sneezing. Chickenpox is regarded as highly communicable for individuals who are exposed to the disease for the first time has an 80% risk of acquiring the disease through close contact of an infected individual. As claimed by the Pub Med Health, “most children with chickenpox exhibit symptoms like fever, headache, stomach ache, loss of appetite, or presence of small, fluid-filled, itchy, red spots over the skin.” At the time when the chickenpox blisters has dried and formed scabs is the point where the individual isn’t contagious. Each and every individual is at risk of being infected by chickenpox – no exception. It is known to have life threatening effects. As the Directors of Health Promotion and Education states, “in the United States, 4,000 to 9,000 individuals are hospitalized annually with chickenpox, with approximately a hundred casualties. Those at highest risk for complications are newborns, individuals with compromised immune system, and adults.” As chickenpox is caused by a virus, it has no cure and the virus would remain in our system for a lifetime even after we’ve done exhibiting the signs...
Words: 1392 - Pages: 6
...Communicable Disease: Chickenpox Grand Canyon University: NRS 427v December 10, 2014 Communicable Disease: Chickenpox The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) defines a communicable disease as “an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host.” There are numerous communicable diseases being studied, treated, prevented, and diagnosed around the world. For the purpose of this paper, one communicable disease in particular will be examined, chickenpox. This paper will address chickenpox as a communicable disease, determinants of health leading to chickenpox, how chickenpox relates to the epidemiologic triangle, the role of the community nurse in their treatment and prevention of chickenpox, and organizations involved on the national level. Epidemiology Chickenpox is a reaction to a virus by the name of varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus is also known to cause a reaction called shingles later in the adult life. Chickenpox causes patients to have an itchy blister-like rash. Other symptoms that are a fever, sleepiness, decrease in appetite, and headache (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). These symptoms can develop a day or two before the rash (CDC, 2012). Chickenpox can spread easily from an infected...
Words: 1233 - Pages: 5
...Epidemiology of Chickenpox Karissa N. Martinez Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V 05/16/2014 Epidemiology of Chickenpox This essay was written to explain the epidemiology of chickenpox and allow the reader to develop a better understanding of the disease. The author intended for the reader to become informed about the causes, symptoms, mode of transmission, complications, treatment and mortality and morbidity rates. Also, the reader will become familiar with the determinants of health and contributing factors to develop varicella, the relation of the epidemiologic triangle, the role of the community health nurse, as well as identify a national organization that reduces the impact of the disease on the community. Chickenpox also known as varicella is a highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. Varicella zoster can cause two illnesses, the first is chickenpox and the second illness is herpes zoster also known as shingles. Transmission of this highly infectious disease is spread through droplet exposure and contact with fluid from blister like vesicles. Examples of exposure through droplets are sneezing, coughing and oral secretions inhaled causing infection to the new host. Chickenpox is easily spread two to three days before the rash appears and is contagious until all the vesicles are scabbed over (WebMD, 2013). Symptoms tend to develop fourteen to sixteen days after exposure; around day ten after the first symptom is when the blisters crust...
Words: 1608 - Pages: 7