Epidemiology Paper ( Tuberculosis)

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.

Resources attached MUST BE USED – ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MUST BE NO MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD
CDC WEBSITE https://www.cdc.gov/
CHAIN OF INFECTION.

ANSWER

Epidemiology Paper-Tuberculosis

Description of the disease

Tuberculosis remains of the life-threatening diseases. It is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium and spread from one person to another through coughs or when speaking (CDC, 2020). Statistics show that 6.3 million people had TB in 2014 (Chakaya, Kirenga & Getahun, 2016). The statistic indicates that a large number of people are exposed to the disease and calls for the attention of healthcare stakeholders to manage it. If someone inhales expelled droplets that contain TB bacteria, they are at increased risk of acquiring the disease. Symptoms associated with the illness include a cough that lasts for some time, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, chills, and profuse sweating, especially during the night time (CDC, 2020). Anyone exhibiting these symptoms should seek immediate healthcare services for prompt action. The disease is associated with notable complications that might deteriorate a person’s health status. For example, spinal pain, bronchitis, kidney, lung problems, and heart disorders are healthcare challenges that might emerge among patients with tuberculosis. Research shows that TB patients can develop long-term complications such as bronchitis and lung problems (Chakaya, Kirenga & Getahun, 2016). Effective management of the disease guarantees protection against these long-term associated complications.

Tuberculosis is a crucial threat to quality health and well-being. In 2012, it killed approximately 8.8 million people (Glaziou et al., 2015). 58% were reported in the Western Pacific, 27% in the African continent, 4% in the European region, and 3% in the American region (Glaziou et al., 2015). Statistics show that in 2017, 1.3 million HIV-negative people died of TB while 300,000 others died of TB. Today, millions of people suffer from tuberculosis, even though the incidence rate has reduced by 20% in 2020 (Pan et al., 2020). TB incident rates vary across countries with high-income countries reporting lower rates. Research shows that developed economies such as Canada, the US, Australian, and New Zealand have the lowest TB rates (Glaziou et al., 2015). The African continent has one of the highest TB incident rates. Its population and others across low-income segments are increasingly prone to the disease. In Africa, TB prevalence rate is 226 people per 100,000 persons (McNeil et al., 2019). The alarming rates of TB call for swift medical attention.

Treatment options for TB include medications such as isoniazid, rifampin, ethambuto, and pyrazinamide (CDC, 2020). The US Food and Drug Administration has recommended these drugs for patients with the TB disease where they are expected to complete the medication as recommended. Tuberculosis falls under the reportable infectious disease, and any case should be reported within one working day of identification (CDC, 2020). This enables healthcare professionals to take swift action to protect the patient and other individuals against exposure.

Social determinants of health

Socioeconomic status, education, physical environment, employment, and social support networks are key factors that determine access and provision of healthcare services. These factors play a vital role in exposing patients to TB. For example, in the socioeconomic status, individuals with low income and poor standards of living might fail to access healthcare services and thus increasingly become exposed to the disease. Notably, employment status determines available resources at hand for healthcare expenses. Those with a low income are less likely to obtain essential care and attention services. Individuals living in overcrowded and poor ventilation are at a high risk of exposure to TB (Duarte et al., 2018). Inadequate air circulation is a crucial threat to their health. Lastly, lack of quality social support might develop issues such as depression and anxiety among TB patients and in the long-run generate adverse consequences.

Epidemiological Triangle

The agent, host, and environment form the epidemiological triangle. In the case of the TB condition, the agent is the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It exists as the bacteria that causes the TB disease. The host is the humans who are affected by the illness. The virus finds its way to the human system through coughing and inhalation of an infected person’s droplets. The environment is the setting where the infection occurs. TB is acquired across overcrowded areas, poorly ventilated rooms, and low background that have inadequate sanitation. Notably, malnutrition areas are highly prone to TB. There is a dire need to educate community members about the status of their environment and how it exposes them to TB to enable them to take proper actions.

TB development follows the chain of infection. It starts with the reservoir, which is the human body, then proceeds to the portal of exit, which is the respiratory tract. The mode of transmission is the inhalation of expelled cough droplets of an infected person. The portal of entry as far as TB is concerned is the respiratory tract. Lastly, the susceptible host is increasingly exposed. For example, individuals living with HIV/AIDS are at an increased threat.

Community health nurse role and relevance of demographic data

Community health nurses play a crucial function in data collection, reporting, analysis and case follow-up for patients with the tuberculosis condition. All of these tactics target health promotion. According to WHO (2017), nurses are a critical factor in health promotion. They collect and analyze data that helps in making quality healthcare decisions. Notably, they closely follow-up on patient’s status to provide adequate care services. Demographic data is essential as it enables healthcare stakeholders to make informed decisions.

An agency that addresses communicable diseases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an organization that addresses communicable disease. It offers essential support for handling the TB illness. For example, it provides information about causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment. This information enables people to make autonomous and quality healthcare choices. For instance, if someone learns about its symptoms, they can immediately seek the attention of a service provider.

The global implication of TB

TB can lead to massive loss of lives globally. There is a dire need for nations to treat TB as a severe disease capable of wiping out their populations. The condition occurs across all global countries but is primarily concentrated in Africa, Russia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Different cultures have distinct ways of managing the disease. For example, in Iran, the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is deemed as an effective strategy for TB control.

References

Duarte, R., Lönnroth, K., Carvalho, C., Lima, F., Carvalho, A. C. C., Muñoz-Torrico, M., & Centis, R. (2018). Tuberculosis, social determinants and co-morbidities (including HIV). Pulmonology, 24(2), 115-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rppnen.2017.11.003

Glaziou, P., Sismanidis, C., Floyd, K., & Raviglione, M. (2015). Global epidemiology of tuberculosis. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 5(2), a017798.

Glaziou, P., Sismanidis, C., Floyd, K., & Raviglione, M. (2015). Global epidemiology of tuberculosis. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 5(2), a017798.

MacNeil, A., Glaziou, P., Sismanidis, C., Maloney, S., & Floyd, K. (2019). Global epidemiology of tuberculosis and progress toward achieving global targets—2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(11), 263.

Pan, Z., Zhang, J., Bu, Q., He, H., Bai, L., Yang, J., … & Lyu, J. (2020). The Gap Between Global Tuberculosis Incidence and the First Milestone of the WHO End Tuberculosis Strategy: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Database. Infection and Drug Resistance, 13, 1281.

Tuberculosis (TB). Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Retrieved 15 December 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm.

World Health Organization. (2017). Enhancing the role of community health nursing for universal health coverage.