...Epidemiology: Chickenpox The Varicella-Zoster virus causes a very infectious disease called Chickenpox. Chickenpox is usually acquired through the inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets from an infected host. Chickenpox is primarily acquired during childhood , with more than 90% of all reported cases occurring in children under the age of 10. A person with chickenpox can spread the virus without even showing any signs or symptoms. It is usually most easily transmitted two to three days before a rash appears and keeps that high transmission rate until the blisters have crusted over. The following paper provides a detailed description of Chickenpox and the determinants of health contributing to the development of the disease. The epidemiologic triangle is used to explain the relationships among an agent, a host and the environment. The paper also addresses the role of the community health nurse in Chickenpox management and discusses the role of one national organization in the fight against the spread of Chickenpox. Description of Chickenpox Chickenpox is an infection caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus. It is considered contagious and is characterized by a itchy rash and appears like blisters all over the body . It occurs most frequently in children between the ages of five and eight years old and is transmitted so easily that the majority of the population will catch the disease at some point in their childhood. Chickenpox can be transmitted by coming into contact...
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...health problems (Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary, 2012). Epidemiology can be applied to any disease. It has helped to develop the methodology used in research and public health. For the purpose of this paper, we will explore the childhood illness chickenpox, the factors that contribute to it’s development, the epidemiological triangle, and the role of the community health nurse as related to reporting and follow-up of cases. Description of Chickenpox Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a highly contagious viral illness caused by the herpes virus, HHV3.4 or varicella zoster virus (Lowth, 2013). Chickenpox is mainly considered a childhood illness but can affect anyone at any age. Symptoms In children the illness generally begins with fever and malaise followed by development of papules on the skin. The day following the first fever a rash often appears on the face and scalp. Within the next 24 hours more papules appear as the first ones turn into vesicles. The rash generally will spread to the trunk, abdomen and limbs. Vesicles can be so few that they go unnoticed and leave the virus undiagnosed or they can cover the entire body including the mucous membranes. The course of the disease is generally seven to ten days from the initial fever to the crusting of the last vesicle. Mode of Transmission The varicella zoster virus is spread by droplet contact when a person with chickenpox breathes, cough, sneezes, laughs, or even speaks. Droplets of saliva infected with...
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...EPIDEMIOLOGY Paper Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V Abstract This paper will provide an overview of the Chickenpox disease process and the effects it has on the population. The paper continues to review how the epidemiological triangle is used and will include the host factors, agent factors (presence or absence), and environmental factors. The writer will try to review the determinants of health and explain how those factors contribute to the development of this disease, and also will see the roles and responsibilities of the community health nurse. In the end the paper discusses the associations, organizations, and national agency that addresses the chicken pox and contributes to resolving or reducing the impact of chickenpox disease. Chickenpox It is studied that 95 % of Americans get chickenpox by adulthood. Chickenpox is highly contagious. According to CDC 4 million people are infected by chickenpox every year. About 120,624 people in the USA were infected in 1995; it decreased to a tremendous 46,016 cases in 1999 in USA [Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), 1999] Earlier before the chickenpox vaccine was discovered,each year about 11,000 people needed hospitalization for chickenpox in the U.S, and about 100 to 150 people died each year of chickenpox. With the vaccine, cases of chickenpox have dropped by about 90%. Cause Chickenpox is a transmittable illness induced by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Babies, adults and individual...
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...Communicable Disease Paper Maria G. Sanchez HCS/457 June 29, 2015 Charlotte A. Ferrell Communicable Disease Paper One of the many highly communicable diseases is chickenpox. This communicable disease is caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which has a resemblance with the herpes virus. It can be transmitted in two ways, one through direct contact with the fluids from the blisters, mucus, or saliva and second through air where the virus is disseminated by coughing or sneezing. A person who has chickenpox can spread the virus even before he or she has any symptoms. Chickenpox is regarded as highly communicable for individuals who are exposed to the disease for the first time nor have been vaccinated against it. They have 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, sore throat, loss of appetite, or presence of small, fluid-filled, itchy, red spots over the skin.” Chickenpox causes a red, itchy skin rash that usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, arms, legs, and genitals. At the time when the chickenpox blisters has dried and formed scabs is the point where the individual isn’t contagious. Chickenpox is normally a mild disease. Each and every individual is at risk of being infected by chickenpox – no exception. It is known...
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...Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V 11/23/13 “In 1895 varicella infection (chickenpox) was not reliably distinguished from smallpox until the end of the 19th century. The first vaccine to reduce the risk of herpes zoster was licensed in May 2006.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013) Chickenpox is a highly infectious childhood disease. Varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox, and also shingles. When infected with chickenpox the most well-known symptom are the skin lesions present that appear on the torso then spreading to the rest of the body in rapidly, can take a couple of hours. The skin lesions that are present occur in the stages of macule, vesicle, and granular scabs, the size varies from one to four mm. It only takes a few hours for the first step, macule lesions to spread from the torso which is where the most of the fluid filled vesicles are seen, then to the rest of the body such as the mucous membranes, arms, legs, mouth, head, upper respiratory tract, vaginal/penis areas, and even the conjunctivae/ cornea. The vesicle stage of chickenpox happens when the lesions which resemble blisters can appear raised or depressed in appearance, and the third stage occurs when the blisters open, then dry and become scabs. Approximately by the third day of having chickenpox it is common to see all three of the different stages of vesicles at the same time. The skin lesions commonly two hundred to five hundred are referred to as one crop, with chicken pox...
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...Epidemiology Paper- Chicken Pox Grand Canyon University Community/Public Health Nursing NRS-427V August 8, 2015 Chicken Pox or Varicella is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus that causes a blister like itchy rash all over the body. The rash is the disclosing indication of chicken pox (Mayo Clinic 2015). While signs and symptoms of chicken pox will usually appear one to two days prior to the rash, the rash itself will last from five to ten days. The symptoms that appear before the rash are headache, fever, general malaise, cough and loss of appetite. There are three phases of rash once it appears; Phase 1 red or pink papules all over the body for several days; Phase 2 The papules turn into vesicles or fluid filled blisters for the period of one day, the vesicles then break and leak; Phase 3 the vesicles scab and become crusted over then take a few more days to heal. There is the possibility to have all three phases of the disease (papules, vesicles and scabs) appearing at one time, as the papules in the beginning, tend to appear for several days. If one is infected with chicken pox, the virus can be spread for 48 hours prior to breaking out in the papules. The patient will then stay contagious until all of the vesicles have scabbed over (Mayo Clinic 2015). The disease itself is mild for most people, but a vaccination is available and a very effective and safe way to prevent chicken pox and its complications. Varicella spreads very...
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...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 and symptoms of the illness. Furthermore, the virus can induce another kind of illness called shingles. As the varicella-zoster virus shifts into...
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...Syndrome (SARS) and also the Great Plague of Surat in 1994. Despite the advance medical knowledge and technology which we have today, we have been however unable to fully eradicate and eliminate these infectious diseases thoroughly. Rather, we are living with these diseases now and are relying on vaccinations and quarantine methods to control the spread of these diseases. An infectious disease in which we are familiar with, yet lack concrete understanding will be the Chickenpox. In this paper, we will be looking at Chickenpox and how it affects the Hispanic Community in United States. First, we will need to define and explain Chickenpox. Chickenpox is a very contagious disease. It is caused by a virus known as varicella-zoster virus. The virus causes itchy rashes and spots over the body which makes the patient very uncomfortable. Many people believe that we cannot avoid this virus and all children are bound to be infected by this disease at some point in their lives. According to research, Chickenpox is most commonly found in children between ages 2 to 8. (Chickenpox) For most people, they only develop the disease once in their entire lifespan because their bodies become immune to the disease after the first outbreak. However, it is still possible for people to get the disease more than once. This usually happens to members of the same family whereby there has...
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...infectious diseases may be transmitted via contact from person to person, or caused by bites from insects or animals (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Signs and symptoms may vary but very often include fever and chills (Mayo Clinic, 2013). The communicable disease chosen for this paper is chickenpox or varicella. Varicella is an infection caused by a virus called varicella zoster virus or VZV (CDC, 2012). The mentioned infection also is well known by herpes zoster and dates to the ancient civilizations; it was reported in 1888 that a relation between herpes zoster and chickenpox was suggested (PubMed, 2000). In 1954, Thomas Weller isolated the VZV virus from the fluids contained in the vesicles of both chickenpox and herpes zoster lesions in cell culture (CDC, 2012). In the 1970 a varicella vaccine was developed in Japan (CDC, 2012). The vaccine was licensed to use in the United States of America in 1995, and the vaccine that helps reduce the risk of herpes zoster was licensed in 2006 (CDC, 2012). VZV is a DNA virus and one of the herpes virus group, VZV persists in the body after the first infection, that results of chickenpox, while herpes zoster is the result of recurrent infection (CDC, 2012). What are the signs of varicella and herpes zoster? Chickenpox infection in most cases lasts about five to ten days; rash is the main characteristic of the disease, other symptoms may be noticed one to two days prior to the appearance of the rash, such as fever, headache, loss of appetite, and general...
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...Autism The Search Story I am writing my research paper over Autism. Autism is one of many mental disabilities; there are mild and severe forms of autism. People who are diagnosed with autsim are hard to visually point out because other than the far away look in their eyes, they physically look like everyone else. People with a mild form of autism talk slower and keep to themselves and have a very childish personality. Those with severe autism seem to be in a different world, they usually have one hobby and stick to it, they are generally very happy and jump around and like to make noises. All people with autism prefer to be left alone and they are very intelligent despite their first impressions. My cousin Nick was diagnosed with autism when he was 18 months old, he is extemely compassionate and constantly happy. He does prefer to be alone to watch his Disneys movies repeatedly. Nick will be 19 this coming September and we still don’t know what caused his disability, his mother is sure that it was caused by the vaccines but the doctors are begging to differ on that opinion. What I want to know the most about autism is how it is diagnosed and how children get it. How does the doctor know that it is autism and not another disability? Is autism given through immunizations when the child is born, or is it genetic? The Search Results Screening for autism is difficult because there is no medical test, so doctors have to look to the behaviors of the children (“Autism Spectrum Disorder...
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...Herald article produced by Julie Szego, her stances towards Anti-vaxxers are very subjective and non-academic. Overall, it can be agreed with scientific and medical evidence that, vaccinations do strengthen a human being’s immune system; however with the contention that Julie has followed through…she fails to convey the validity and instead creates segregation between the supporting views. This paper aims to critique Julie’s methodology of delivering her concern, whilst providing adjustments on how this piece would have been written, if this piece were to be an objective scientific review. Vaccinations are essential for strengthening one’s immune system, via defending the body against invading organisms by producing an...
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...dallas community assessment and analysis Community Assessment and Analysis of Dallas Pennsylvania Community Assessment and Analysis of Dallas Pennsylvania The purpose of a community health assessment and analysis is to identify a community’s assets and issues in regards to its environment, social structure and population (Dreher, Shapiro, & Asselin, 2006). The community assessment utilizes objective data such as vital statistics and demographic data, but also encompasses subjective data that is obtained through a windshield survey and through the conduction of focus groups of community residents. Analysis of this comprehensive data, enables advanced practice nurses to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a community and design interventions to either enhance or help the community. For this community assessment, the Borough of Dallas, Pennsylvania was investigated using the community-as-a-partner approach. History Dallas is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Dallas was created by a charter granted April 21, 1879 from the land entirely within Dallas Township. The township had been formed in 1817 and was named for Alexander J. Dallas, who was the sixth United States Secretary of the Treasury (Epodunk, 2011). The local government describes the borough as the “heart” of the Back Mountain being that is it surrounded by other townships and boroughs. The Back Mountain is, a census-designated place consisting of Dallas...
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...Vaccines are made up of products that stimulate a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. They are usually administered through needle injections by mouth or sprayed into the nose. They are made up of small amounts of weakened or dead versions of bacteria, viruses, or other antigens that stimulate the immune system to create antibodies that prevent future infections from the disease. There are fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases that are considered potentially serious and have been routinely vaccinated against; these are: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal, Rotavirus, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Pneumococcal disease, Varicella (Chicken Pox), and Haemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB disease). Not long ago, these diseases disabled and killed millions of American children but because of the United States high compliance with childhood immunization schedules, these diseases have now become very uncommon (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Immunization is a subject that evokes very strong opinions in the public and usually creates a lot of debate as to their efficacy, safety, and reliability. The main questions parents have to answer are whether to immunize or not, and do the risks of the disease outweigh the risks of the vaccine. To condense, some normal advantages of being immunized are the entire eradication of specific illnesses, the...
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...Vaccination Controversy Julie S. Bertram Excelsior College Author's note This paper was written for MLS 500: Graduate Research and Writing taught by Dr. Kyla Hammond Most healthcare professionals and leaders attribute vaccination as the single-most important reason for increasing the health of the human population during the past one hundred years. As a result, required immunizations are common in the U. S. and other developed countries. However, there is a segment of society who argue against vaccination due to worries that immunizing negatively impacts future health. More and more information is becoming available that presents allopathic vaccination in an ugly light. (Sharma, 2003) For the past century, vaccines for diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and now more recently, hepatitis B and varicella have programmed our immune systems to be powerful protectors of our health. Compulsory state immunization laws have increased the U.S. immunization rate to 77%, the highest ever. (Largent, 2012) Despite high immunization rates, there is an underlying progression of a movement of parents questioning whether the vaccines are contributing to health conditions such as autism. Contributing to the uncertainty are occasional anecdotal accounts of parents with children who experience adverse reactions. Fear causes many parents to entirely forego vaccines for their children. Regardless of mandatory school vaccine laws for school children, physicians can...
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...Unvaccinated Children: Should they be allowed in public schools? Assignment 5: Persuasive Paper Part 3: Possible Disadvantages, Answers, with VisualsYour Name Lisa Teitler Eng 215 March 13, 2016 Unvaccinated Children: Should they be allowed in public schools? Today’s vaccinations are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to ensure their effectiveness and safety to the general public. Currently there are no federal laws which mandates vaccination, but there is a vaccination requirement per state for children entering school. The chart below details which vaccines are mandated for public school by several states: Children who are not vaccinated have a greater chance of death than children who received the required vaccinations. The safety of vaccinations is in questioned by many, asking if they are safe for children to receive. They are safe and should be required for children since those vaccinations help prevent illnesses, lower the risk for some diseases and it might even cause financial growth. There are several advantages of receiving the recommended vaccines. One advantage is that they are designed to put foreign antigens into the body so the body will produce antibodies to fight it off. The body will produce two types of immune responses when an antigen is introduced in order to ensure total immunity from the disease. Vaccines ensure that children get immunity from diseases instead of contracting them. Having immunity is a major advantage...
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