...Epidemiology and Vulnerable Populations Angela Wilson NUR / 408 November 4, 2013 Epidemiology and Vulnerable Populations Introduction Health is a state of optimum well-being, a human right and a social goal. The public health mission is to provide and assure conditions that promote health in the community. Public health, epidemiology and nursing practice share the same goal of disease prevention and control. By definition, epidemiology is the study of population in order to monitor the health of the population, understand the determinants of health and disease in the community, and investigate and evaluate interventions to prevent disease and maintain health. (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Epidemiology today is considered to be the core science of public health and is described as a constellation of disciplines with a common mission: optimal health for the whole community (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Epidemiology has reformed public health and continues to strive for disease prevention and health promotion in communities across the world. The population...
Words: 1966 - Pages: 8
...Homeless Veterans and Mental Health Shana Holt NUR/408 August 24, 2015 Ann Reagan Homeless Veterans and Mental Health According to the "National Alliance on Mental Illness" (2015), "Veterans make up as much as one third of the nation's population of homeless people." (Homeless Veterans). The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimate that 45% of these veterans are also living with a mental illness and half suffer with substance abuse problems like drug addiction or alcoholism. This population is predisposed to a number of medical, psychiatric, and social problems such as tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, alcoholism and substance use, skin and foot disease, schizophrenia and related psychoses, malnutrition, and trauma. Many of these veterans have lost their families, homes or even both as a result of the inability to adapt to civilian life. America's homeless veterans have served in all wars including some of our most recent like Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The Veterans Administration (VA) currently provides specialized homelessness programs to almost 150,000 homeless veterans. “Since 1987, VA's programs for homeless veterans have emphasized collaboration with such community service providers to help expand services to more veterans in crisis." ("National Coalition for Homeless Veterans", n.d.). Epidemiology Paper Roles This paper will explain the role epidemiology plays in the surveillance of mental...
Words: 1982 - Pages: 8
...Concepts of Epidemiology: Tuberculosis Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V 10-26-2014 Concepts of Epidemiology: Tuberculosis “In 2013, 9 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease” (WHO, 2014). Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. About one-third of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria, but is not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. (WHO, 2014). “Tuberculosis mostly affects young adults, in their most productive years. However, all age groups are at risk. Over 95% of cases and deaths are in developing countries. People who are infected with HIV are 26 to 31 times more likely to become sick with TB” (WHO, 2014). Risk of active TB is also greater in persons suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system. Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. “TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-sensitive TB disease is treated with a standard six-month course of four antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the...
Words: 1319 - Pages: 6
...Tuberculosis also known as TB, is a serious disease that affects millions of people world-wide each year. This respiratory illness usually infects the lungs, although it can affect any part of body or both at the same time. The agent that causes TB is mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacteria can be found easily in the environment such as soil and water but M. tuberculosis can only survive in its human hosts. About one-third of the human population has tuberculosis. This highly contagious disease is spread through droplets in the air when an actively infected person coughs, spits, talks, sings, or sneezes and an uninfected person is close and catches the bacteria by inhaling it. A large majority of those infected do not have symptoms, which is known as latent tuberculosis. Ten percent of those with latent TB developed an active infection in their lifetime and about half of those with active TB will die from the disease. Symptoms may be mild the first few weeks or months of the disease, easily spreading to others due to how highly contagious it is. The farthest back scientists have discovered TB is 2400BC through the spinal fragments of ancient Egyptian mummies. It was also found in bone fragments in South American from 750BC. Records prior to the 19th century have described this disease which then was also called consumption, white plague, dread disease, or the king’s evil. The spread of TB reached a peak during the 19th century Industrial Revolution in...
Words: 1443 - Pages: 6
...Tuberculosis Mabel Soto Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-437V Kelly Davis May 10, 2015 Tuberculosis A communicable disease is any disease or infection that is transmitted from one person to another. The spread could happen via different types of transmission depending the disease it could be airborne or contact with bodily fluids. As health care providers it is our duty to teach and educate the population about communicable diseases to inform them on how they are spread and prevented. The following essay will briefly discuss tuberculosis and the role of a community health nurse. “Tuberculosis is a highly communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection” (Winkelman, Workman, & Hausman, 2010). It is transmitted via airborne route for example if an infected person laughs, whistles, coughs or sneezes. The population at risk for developing tuberculosis are people who have direct contact with a person infected with tuberculosis. People who have a low immune system are also at risk for developing tuberculosis. As well as people that live in crowded areas like long term facilities or prisons and homeless people. Signs and symptoms include persistent cough, weight loss, anorexia, night sweats, fever or chills and dyspnea. Tuberculosis can be diagnosed with the tuberculin skin test a small amount of fluid is injected to the patient’s forearm the test needs to be read within 48 to 72 hours. A raised red induration means...
Words: 1392 - Pages: 6
...6. Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases Chapter 8 Disease is not constant • Emerging Diseases – are recently “discovered” diseases, or diseases that have become increasingly important. • Some are old diseases just discovered – like Hepatitis C • Some are truly new like HIV • Many are taking advantage of some niche – like air conditioners in large buildings – Legionella pneumophila • Diseases moving to new parts of the world – West Nile Virus • Re-emerging Diseases – are diseases that became less important, but are again increasing in importance. • Tuberculosis is an old disease that is again rapidly increasing in some populations. 1 2 Health Science Microbiology David L. Beck, B.S., A.M., Ph.D. FYI Emerging Diseases - Examples FYI Re-emerging Diseases - Examples 3 4 Known Species The Tip of the Iceburg • How many species are there? • 1980 there was 1,792 described species • 1990 there was 3,393 species (173 new per year) • 2000 there was 6,386 species (299 new per year) • 2010 there was 12,926 species (654 new per year) • Oct 2011 there was 13,563 species (Yikes!!!) (Most of these we know nothing about other than their name.) WE KNOW VERY LITTLE 80% of bacteria are unculturable – what you do not know about can hurt you! 61% of the known 1415 species infectious (and counting) to man are from animals (zoonoses) • • • • 5 Want to know the current number of described species? See: http://www.bacterio.cict.fr/number.html Updated daily. 6 Normal...
Words: 4121 - Pages: 17
...Rupinder Kaur Gurm Rhonda Tanner NRS-427V Grand Canyon University 06 November 2015 TUBERCULOSIS Tuberculosis which is also known as TB is a communicable disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Which most commonly affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is spread via droplets from person to person from The throat and lungs of people who have the active disease. When person with active disease coughs, Sneezes or speaks TB bacteria travels through air and enter the other person. In healthy people Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection does not cause any symptoms, due to the person's high Immunity, that works as a wall off the bacteria. TB bacteria can live in the body without a person Making sick, and the person cannot spread TB infection, it called as Latent TB infection. TB bacteria becomes present in the after entering the body and increases in number. The individual gets sick with Tuberculosis after having latent TB infection. TB bacteria usually stays in the lungs. Symptoms of tuberculosis includes: 1. Night sweats, fever. 2. Coughing or coughing up sputum/blood. 3. Chest pain, weakness, weight loss. 4. Chills, 5. Loss of appetite. Risk Factors of Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis spread easily, and anyone can get infected with TB. High risk people are the people who Were infected with TB bacteria before, and people with low immunity due to medical conditions. Some Other risks are: 1. Contact with a person infected with TB. 2. Visited a country...
Words: 1286 - Pages: 6
...Tuberculosis The Purpose of this report is to understand Epidemiology of Tuberculosis, a communicable infection disease, discuss insight and contribution of Community Public Health Nurses and deliberate role of NCHHSTP play in prevention, treatment and controlling of TB on national basis. TUBERCULOSIS Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious multisystem infectious disease. Ancient Greece consultants classified such sickness as “phthisis or phthisis pulmonails” referring as a wasting away disease. First sign of tuberculosis was found in 8000BC cadavers that’s indicates a long relationship of TB with humans. This infectious bacterium only found in human beings not yet discovered in soil, insects or animals. CAUSES Tuberculosis (TB) generally occurred in a body by a result of rod shaped, slow growing, aerobic bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, discovered by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882 which was also known as “Koch’s bacillus” while other TB causing bacteria are: Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium microti or Mycobacterium canetti, and it mainly hit the function of lungs. Mycobacterium avium complex doesn’t cause Tuberculosis in humans. This disease may circulate in different human tissues/organs by blood or lymphatic alleyways or enters into the person’s lungs through inhaling process in polluted air. SYMPTOMS There are two broad types of tuberculosis: * Latent TB Infection hit the body but bacteria remain inactive mode so usually no prompt...
Words: 2959 - Pages: 12
...Epidemiology Grand Canyon University Concepts In Community and Public Health NRS-427V-0102 Epidemiology The communicable disease that I have selected is Tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of my paper in to describe, in detail the communicable disease and its impact on the global nations over time. It also addresses the role of a community health nurse in breaking the chain of infection and preventing the spread of the deadly disease. On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB). During this time, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the United States and Europe. Dr. Koch’s discovery was the most important step taken toward the control and elimination of this deadly disease. The world health organization has set this day aside for remembering the great discovery that won a noble prize as well a day of global awareness. There were 1.5 million reported deaths related to TB in 2010, an astounding statistic. The bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is responsible for causing the disease. It is a Highly infectious disease that primarily affects the lung. It’s mode of transmission is Airborne, meaning it is spread through the air when someone coughs, sneezes or even talks. The bacteria can also affect other parts of the body including lymph nodes, kidneys, urinary tract and bones. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria is present but the person does...
Words: 1290 - Pages: 6
...Benchmark Assignment: Tuberculosis Epidemiology Paper Aynalem Elfay Grand Canyon University ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to describe tuberculosis, evaluate the determinants and see how these factors contribute to the development of the disease. In addition, the paper describes how the community health nurse will play a role in providing treatment and prevention towards the disease. WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS? Tuberculosis is most commonly known as TB. It is a bacterial infection that can spread to any organ in a person’s body. It is a disease most commonly found in the lungs. Individuals who are most exposed to this particular disease do not develop the symptoms since the bacteria itself can reside as an inactive form in the human body (WebMD, 2016). However, if the body’s immune system weakens then the TB can be very active and harmful to the individual. As a result, the TB bacteria can cause death to the tissues in the organs that are infected. If the disease is left untreated, it can be very harmful and fatal to the human body. The bacteria that cause Tuberculosis are air transmitted. In other words, the disease can be very contagious and the infection from the bacteria is most likely to occur. WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? Individuals who are exposed to TB often acquire the disease from other individuals already infected. The individuals who have active TB infections can easily spread the disease if they are in close proximity. Through coughing, sneezing, and...
Words: 1436 - Pages: 6
...Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Communicable Disease and Epidemiology As part of human history, there have always been disease processes that have been known to pass from a person or something else to other people through physical contact, sharing most any item with an infected person or just breathing the same air where the disease exists, these disease processes are known as communicable diseases. Basically, communicable diseases are diseases that you can catch from other organisms. There are noted to be approximately 165 known communicable diseases in the environment (Wisconsin, 2014). The disease addressed in this paper is known as Tuberculosis (TB). Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacteria that cause TB. This particular bacteria is not passed through physical contact with an infected person but rather is passed through airborne transmission as an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. The mode of transmission for TB is known as airborne transmission. In the hospital setting a person suspected to have or proven to have TB will be placed on airborne precautions and located in a negative pressure room where the air is continually being pulled from the room and replaced with fresh air. The health care professional (HCP) taking care of the person suspected to have TB is to wear a special respiratory mask known as an N95 mask as well as a gown, gloves. These masks are fit tested yearly to improve the safety of the HCP. A person having active TB can spread the...
Words: 1585 - Pages: 7
...How Tuberculosis Affects the World Concepts in Community and Public Health October 17, 2014 How Tuberculosis Affects the World Tuberculosis (TB) was misconstrued as a disease of the past. However, it remains to be a significant threat to public health. In 2012, one-third of the population worldwide is affected by TB. About 9-million were diagnosed with TB and with nearly 1.5-million mortality each year (American Lung Association [ALA], 2013). 95-percent of fatality occurs on low- and mid-income countries. It affects young adults, although all ages are at risk. It is the third leading fatality to women 15- to 44-years-old.TB follows human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) as leading cause of death for a single infectious bacteria. It is the cause of death to 20-percent of people with HIV/AIDS. More than 20-percent of TB disease is connected to smoking (World Health Organization, 2014). TB is caused by Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis bacteria which usually attacks the lungs. Although, it can strike any parts of the body such as the brain, kidney, and spine. TB disease can be fatal if not treated. M. tuberculosis is a slow-growing bacteria that proliferates in the body organs with enough supply of blood and oxygen, this explains why it is predominant in the lungs. TB is categorized to being latent or inactive disease if a person is inflicted with the bacteria but is asymptomatic, and at this time is not contagious. A person with active...
Words: 1618 - Pages: 7
...Tuberculosis MELINDA COSTA FERNANDES, LPN Jerse y College Teterboro Campus Dr. Hemant Sabharwal November 2013 April 2015 ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB is spread from person to person by the airborne route (MMWR, 2013). Tuberculosis is a leading killer of young adults worldwide and the global scourge of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is reaching epidemic proportions. It is endemic in most developing countries and resurgent in developed and developing countries with high rates of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Renewed efforts in tuberculosis (TB) research have led to important new insights into the biology and epidemiology of this devastating disease. The disease, risk factors, treatment and prevention of TB is discussed in this paper. Tuberculosis can be controlled if appropriate policies are followed, effective clinical and public health management is ensured, and there are committed and co-ordinated efforts from within and outside the health sector. Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB, is spread from person to person by the airborne route. When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs, laughs, sneezes, sings, or even talks, the germs...
Words: 1774 - Pages: 8
...Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Chain of Infection Communicable diseases occurring throughout worldwide communities raise public health challenges and demand the attention of health agencies on a global scale. Disease control is a complex issue which requires intervention on the environmental and behavioral level by health agencies and caregivers including public health nurses. Providing primary, secondary, and tertiary methods of prevention are necessary in the interruption of the chain of infection and protection of populations from communicable diseases. Tuberculosis is a deadly disease occurring in one third of the world’s population, infecting nine million people in 2013 and leading to over one million deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Community health nurses play an integral role in the fight against tuberculosis by providing immediate and follow up care to affected individuals, assisting in research and investigations to combat the disease, and educating communities about early detection, treatment, and prevention. Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially fatal infection commonly caused by a strain of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Maurer & Smith, 2013). In the most familiar presentation, the lungs are affected, but the bacteria can also infect the kidneys, lymphatic system, brain, and spine (Maurer & Smith, 2013). The disease can manifest in latent form in which an individual is not infectious and cannot...
Words: 1490 - Pages: 6
...Epidemiology Paper: Tuberculosis Kyle J. Patzner Grand Canyon University: Concepts in Community and Public Health January 12, 2014 Tuberculosis has long been a disease that the human culture has been dealing with which entails significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. With dealing with such a horrific disease over the years, discoveries and evolution on the appropriate ways to contain, diagnose, and challengingly treat the disease has changed. One of the most concerning complications of this worldwide public health issue is the ability for it to quickly spread in high populated areas while becoming ever more resistant to forms of treatment not available in all locations around the world. This is a serious public health concern and poses major implications for current and future treatment of the disease (Chan, B., Khadem, T., & Brown, J. 2013). With the help of the community and the leadership of strong, resourceful organizations, we can come together to overcoming such a hideous disease which affects the lives of millions annually. In this paper, the writer will discuss the incidence of Tuberculosis, treatment, social determinants, organizations involved, and the role public health nursing has on overcoming the presence of this disease. Tuberculosis is an airborne communicable disease which is rapidly spreading. Tuberculosis infection is the result of the exposure to the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis. This is the agent as it applies to...
Words: 1789 - Pages: 8
