...Epidemiology Hepatitis B affects 1 in 3 people worldwide (Hepatitis B Foundation [HBF], 2014). A vaccine has been available for over 30 years, yet it is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide (HBF, 2014). The epidemiology of hepatitis B, the role of the community health nurse along with the knowledge about what is being done to combat and reduce the impact of the virus gives a comprehensive look at hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a DNA virus, and belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). The virus interferes with liver function and liver damage is caused from the inflammation from the body’s immune response. Jaundice is the classic symptom of liver disease. For correct diagnosis, a Hepatitis B blood panel is needed. Symptoms of the disease may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, joint pain, weakness, fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain and jaundice. These symptoms can range in severity, with onset from one to four months after hepatitis B exposure (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Some patients do not experience symptoms; these patients have the potential to become chronic carriers and a source of transmission to others without being aware of it (WHO, 2014). Hepatitis B is transmitted from direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, and sexual intercourse. A break in the skin barrier must be present for blood to infect a person. Sharing of an infected needle is another source of infection....
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...Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a disease that affects many people worldwide and can cause serious and potentially fatal complications. This paper will provide an overview of this disease, including demographic information, while discussing contributing determinants of health, the implications of the epidemiological triangle as it relates to the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), the role of the community health nurse, as well as identify a national organization that addresses the disease and how it contributes to reducing the impact on society. Overview Hepatitis B is an infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus that multiplies in the liver, causing inflammation that can involve other organs of the body such as the kidneys and vasculature. Symptoms are varied and highly dependent on the severity of the illness and organ involvement. Roughly two thirds of cases are asymptomatic (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). The Communicable Disease Chain identifies the infected individual as the host or reservoir, whose portal of exit includes cuts, needles and mucus membranes. The mode of transmission is through direct contact with the portal of entry, which is identified as blood or bodily fluids of the infected individual, into the susceptible host, thereby creating a new reservoir to further spread the disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). Once infected, the virus multiplies in the liver causing severe inflammation which may resolve naturally, in acute cases...
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...Hepatitis B Virus: Epidemiological and Social Implications Amy Berry Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V Sandra White August 21, 2015 Hepatitis B Virus: Epidemiological and Social Implications The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is an infection that attacks the liver and is categorized as both acute and chronic. The geographic prevalence between five and ten percent is predominantly in African and East Asian countries and only a one percent occurrence in the United States. The global incidence of HBV is approximately two billion people worldwide and of those, 350 million have chronic liver dysfunctionality resulting in an increased mortality risk related to cirrhosis and hepatic neoplasms ("The World Health Organization," 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2013, acute cases of HBV totaled 3,050 and 31,763 chronic cases were reported in the United States and a it is estimated that a total of 140,000 patients are infected every year that are not reported or unknown, and of those, an upwards of 1,000 people will die of chronic liver disease resulting from HBV ("CDC," 2013). The introduction of the HBV vaccine in 1982 and the inoculation of infants has dramatically lowered the frequency of infection, however, certain subgroups such as hemodialysis patients, health care professionals, intravenous (IV) drug users, organ transplantation recipients and homosexual males are at higher risk and should be periodically tested...
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...Epidemiology: Hepatitis C in the Veteran Population NUR / 408 July 7, 2014 Deborah Nallo Introduction Hepatitis C (HCV) is highly prevalent within the Veteran population. HCV is a major public health concern because of the debilitating effects associated with the virus. HCV results in increased mortality and morbidity rates resulting from the acute and chronic effects of the virus. The most common transmission of HCV occurs through injection drug use, injuries resulting from needle sticks and the lack of infection control in healthcare facilities. The transmission of HCV can also occur through sexual contact between individuals who have the human immunodeficiency virus, and HCV virus, tattoos that were not professionally done and HCV infected mothers who have transmitted the virus to their newborn babies. The hepatitis C virus is the most common blood-borne virus in the United States. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C. Most are unaware of their infection. Each year, about 17,000 Americans become infected with hepatitis C ("Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", n.d.). The veteran population has a higher rate of HCV exposure and infection when compared to the general population. Many of the individuals who are infected with the HCV virus are unaware of their infection and therefore they do not receive the necessary treatment. Individuals with HCV are at increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinomas and other...
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...Background of the study Hepatitis is a very significant global concern, several different viruses have been identified (Hepatitis A B C D and E), which collectively, account for the majority of viral hepatitis in humans. They afflict more than half a billion people worldwide, and are responsible for over a million deaths a year. Hepatitis-A is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the liver. Symptoms of this viral infection are not always present and this includes jaundice, stomach pain and dark color of urine. Since this virus cannot be killed, treatment consists of relieving only the symptom’s, while the body fights the infection. Ones the person is infected with the virus, they will not be infected again. The cause of Hepatitis A is a single stranded RNA virus from the family picornaviridae and genus hepatuvirus. This virus only affects human. Hepatitis-A is most commonly spread by eating, drinking or using utensils that has been contaminated with the stool of a person infected. This type of transmission is called “fecal-oral” transmission. For this reason, the virus is more easily spread in areas where there is poor sanitary condition or where good personal hygiene is not observed. According to the staff nurses interviewed at the Bontoc General Hospital, there are few cases which have been confirmed to have this disease. They believe that the common acquisition of the disease of the patients of Bontoc General Hospital is through ingestion of contaminated...
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...Running head: EPIDEMIOLOGY PAPER - HEPATITIS B 1 Epidemiology Paper - Hepatitis B Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0102 EPIDEMIOLOGY PAPER - HEPATITIS B Epidemiology Paper - Hepatitis B 2 ―Communicable disease‖ means 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‖ ("CDC," 2010, p. 1). Hepatitis B is one of the communicable diseases which are a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). CAUSES ―Exposure may occur: After a needle stick or sharps injury - Hepatitis B is a concern for health care workers and anyone else who comes in contact with human blood If any blood or other body fluid touches your skin, eyes or mouth People who may be at risk of hepatitis B are those who: Unprotected sex with an infected partner – one may become infected having unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner whose blood, saliva, semen or vaginal secretions enter your body. Receive blood transfusions (not common in the United States) Have contact with blood at work (such as health care workers) Have been on long-term kidney dialysis Get a tattoo or acupuncture with unclean needles Share needles during drug use - HBV is easily transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated...
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...Hepatitis B: An Epidemic The World Health Organization defines epidemiology as “the study of the distribution and determinants of health- related states or events, and the application of the study to the control of diseases and other health problems” (CDC, 2014). Determinates of health are “the circumstances in which people are born, live, work and age as well as the systems put in place to deal with illness”. The communicable disease chain is a model beneficial to integrating the many concepts of communicable diseases (Maurer & Smith, 2009). A nurse has a significant role in preventing and controlling infectious disease. A vital factor in preparing for clinical nursing practice is having an understanding of the infection process and techniques on how to prevent it. This paper focuses on a prevalent communicable disease, Hepatitis B. This writer will give a description of the disease, the demographic affected by the disease, what determinates contribute to the development of Hepatitis B, she will discuss the epidemiology triangle of the disease, explain the role of the community health nurse in this community, and explain various agencies and resources patients diagnosed with this disease can access. Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Two types exist: the acute illness and the chronic illness. In the acute illness, the immune system is able to rid the body of the virus and a complete recovery may occur in a few months. Chronic hepatitis...
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...Benchmark Assignment: Epidemiology Paper Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0501 Benchmark Assignment: Epidemiology Paper Hepatitis B The definition for Hepatitis changes with whom you ask. To some it means a horrible painful way to die while others are able to look at it as a disease. The word Hepatitis means liver inflamation. The liver is a large, glandular, reddish-brown organ located in the upper right side of the abdomen. It consists of 5 lobes and secretes bile into the gallbladder and into the small intestine and aids in the digestion of lipids. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common types in the United States but there is also a type D, E, and there was thought to be an F but after a thorough investigation they failed to prove its existence. Hepatitis B (HBV) is a liver disease that is contagious. It is believed that approximately 1.2 to 1.4 million people in the United States have chronic Hepatitis many of which are not officially diagnosed. There are two stages or categories of Hepatitis B, chronic and acute. Chronic Hepatitis B is anyone who has had the virus for longer than 6 months ("Hepatitis B," 2010) and at this point it is considered a lifelong illness. The beginning or acute phase of Hepatitis B is the first 6 months of being exposed to the virus. During this first 6 months some people are able to fight the infection off and get rid of it. Symptoms may...
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...Epidemiology Paper Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS 427V Colleen Darrow RN June 28, 2014 Epidemiology Paper “World wide, two billion people have been infected with hepatitis B Virus” (Shepard & Simard, 2006, p. 112) Hepatitis B virus cause liver tissue infections which is life threatening potentially. And both acute and chronic hepatitis B has a profound impact on global health. “More than 240 million people have chronic liver infections, and more than 780,000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B.”("WHO Media Center," 2014) The HBV is transmitted from an infected carrier to the others via contact with blood and other body fluid. Hepatitis B is also a major occupational hazard for health workers. Fortunately the infection can be effectively prevented by safe vaccine. Since 1982, safe Hepatitis B vaccine has been available; the effectiveness of preventing the infection and its long-term consequences has been established. Hepatitis B vaccine is the first vaccine which against a major human cancer. “HBV infection may result in subclinical or asymptomatic infection, acute self-limited hepatitis, or fulminant hepatitis requiring liver transplant.” (Shepard & Simard, 2006, p. 113) The average incubation period is 90 days for a newly infected person who may develop acute hepatitis. The common signs and symptoms for acute hepatitis...
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...Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography AB HCS/465 January 26th, 2015 Lane Baggett Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography Reference Gershon, MHS, DrPHa, R. R., Karkashian, MAa, C. D., Grosch, PHDb, J. W., Murphy, PhDb, L. R., Escamilla-Cejudo, MD, PhDa, c, A., Flanagan, BAa, P. A., Bernacki, MD, MPHd, E., Kasting, MPHe, C., & Martin, PhDe, L. (2000, June). Hospitals safety climate and its relationship with safe work practices and workplace exposure incidents. American Journal of Infection Control, 28 (3), 211-221. This article is in relevance to comparing the work compliance of safety and the safety regulations of working within the safety guards of safe practices and the safety regulations of exposures to blood and other body fluids. In the article it discussed the methods used, which was a questionnaire, which contained 46 safety climate items, which were tested on 789 health care workers based in hospital health facilities. This research was conducted in order to perform evaluations in different settings in order to define the new safety climate scale. In order to target additional problems in hospital safety and guide to reduce incidents that may occur because of failure to follow regulations. Gampper, R. N., George, J., Carter, J., & Jesdale, M. (1998, April). Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV in high risk clinical care settings in Rhode Island. AIDS Care, 10(2), 221-9. The article is in relevance...
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...Communicable Disease- Hepatitis B Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a partially double-stranded DNA virus that is highly prevalent worldwide. Probably 300 million persons, or 5% of the world population, have chronic HBV infection. (Copstead-Kirkhorn & L.B, 2013, p. 768) It can lead to liver disease and can infect the person they come in contact with the bodily fluids of the infected person. 5 to 10% of the population is chronically infected in sub Saharan desert and east Asia. Due to complications risen from Hepatitis B more than 780000 die every year. ("World health organization," 2015). Hepatitis B can be transmitted through various modes of transmissions. It can be transferred through sexual contact when non infected person comes in contact with semen, vaginal secretions or blood of the infected person. It is of very high occurrence in drug users as they share needles and syringes contaminated with infected blood and do not think about how risky this behavior can be towards their health. Mothers can also pass this virus to their babies at childbirth but the newborns can be vaccinated to avoid getting infected in almost all cases. There are many symptoms of this disease like mild or severe abdominal pain, itching, fever, dark colored urine, high fever, nausea, feeling weak and tired, vomiting, skin turns yellow, fluid in abdomen and web of swollen blood vessels in the skin. Hepatitis B can cause many complications that can sometime lead to death too. Most common is the cirrhosis...
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...National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Safety has recommended using epidemiologic techniques to reduce the incidence and severity of traumatic injuries. How can epidemiologic techniques mitigate against traumatic injuries? |The term “Epidemiologic” is an adverb of the word “Epidemiology”. The etymology of the word “epidemiology” indicates that it is derived from | |no less than three (3) Greek root words. Specifically, “Epi” meaning on, or upon; “Demos” meaning people; and, “Logy” meaning study. | |Therefore, “Epidemiology is, thus the study of what is upon the people. In modern terms, it is the science of the distribution of disease and| |its determinants (causes). Epidemiology is also a process that uses the facts at hand as clues to point to new knowledge and solutions. | |Epidemiologists have been called “disease detectives” and “medical sleuths” for this reason” (Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services | |(n.d.). Key Epidemiological Terms. Principles of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from | |http://health.mo.gov/training/epi/EpidemiologyTerms.html). More specifically, epidemiology can be viewed as the study of the health problems, | |and the “who, what, where, how, and why” they exist. Hence, as state above, epidemiologists are seen, as "disease detectives" comprised of | |the professions such as laboratory scientists, statisticians, physicians and other health care...
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...Hepatitis B: A Global Health Crisis Gina Duron Grand Canyon University: NRS 427V November 15, 2015 Hepatitis B: A Global Health Crisis Approximately one-third of the world’s population have been infected with the hepatitis b virus (HBV) and 240 million people are infected with chronic hepatitis b infection worldwide. This communicable disease is a potentially life threatening liver infection. It has become a global health problem that affects all areas of the world. Many organizations, health care providers, and governments around the world are working together to address the health concerns that affect different parts of the world. By understanding the health determinants that affect hepatitis b and researching the epidemiologic triangle of hepatitis b, policies and plans can be developed to guide the community health nurse in her role in reducing the morbidity and mortality of this communicable disease. What is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis b is a viral infection that can manifest as acute or chronic. Approximately ninety percent of adults with a normal immune status can recover completely from a newly acquired hepatitis b infection. Infants, young children, immunocompromised persons infected with hepatitis b are more at risk for developing the chronic form of disease which can lead to life threatening liver disease and liver cancer. Symptoms of HBV include jaundice of skin and sclera, abdominal pain, fever, joint pain, weakness and nausea and vomiting. This communicable...
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...Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 1 Management Interview Paper Lisa Patterson HCS413 December 13, 2010 Mr. Jeffrey Dodd Centers for Disease Control & Prevention 2 CDC Director- Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Administrator (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in June 2009. Dr. Frieden has worked with communicable and noncommunicable diseases in the United States and around the whole world. He worked for the New York City’s program from 1992-1996, to control tuberculosis and reduced cases by 80 percent. From there, he resided in India for five years and assisted with national tuberculosis control efforts. It has treated well over 10 million patients and has saved more than one million lives. From 2002-2009, he was Commissioner of New York City Health Department which is one of the world’s largest public health agencies with a yearly budget of $1.7 billion and a staff of more than 6,000. By being a part of Tobacco Act, he has reduced the number of smokers by 350,000, cut teen smokers by 50%. The first place in the U.S. which was New York has shrunk trans-fats from restaurants, to gather calorie information to certain restaurants and screen the diabetes epidemic. The New York City Health Department has also created colon cancer screening rates increased. The department also has furnished the biggest community electronic health...
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...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...
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