Infections that can spread from one person to another are known as infectious diseases. These disorders can be brought on by a wide range of microorganisms, including parasites, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Some of these illnesses are transferred through insect bites, while others are spread through contaminated food and drink. This essay illustrates how epidemiology and nursing research can be used in a practical situation by using tuberculosis as an example.
Description of Tuberculosis as Chosen Communicable Disease
One of the worst infectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB), affects the lung as its primary target organ. The possibility of transmitting the germs that cause tuberculosis from one person to another by coughing and sneezing droplets exists (The World Health Organization, 2019).
The Causes of Tuberculosis
The organism Widespread tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). An infected person can spread the bacterium via the air by coughing, laughing, talking, or sneezing. Although the lungs are the primary organ attacked, the germs can also target other organs (The World Health Organization, 2019). Despite being contagious, mycobacterium tuberculosis is challenging to spread via air.
The symptoms of tuberculosis
Like other infectious diseases, TB has recognizable symptoms that can be used to diagnose it. Fatigue, a fever, a cough that lasts for three weeks or longer, night sweats, and red mucus in the trachea are some of these indications. Lack of hunger, a cold, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and abrupt losing weight are TB symptoms. The brain, kidneys, spine, and other crucial bodily parts are just a few of the areas where tuberculosis can spread (The World Health Organization, 2019). A typical sign of tuberculosis of the spine is back pain, but a sign of TB of the kidneys is blood in the urine.
The Mode of Transmission
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB), transmits from an infected person to a susceptible one through droplet nuclei, which are airborne particles (Hargreaves et al., 2018). The dimension of these components ranges from 1 micron to 5 microns (Hargreaves et al., 2018). When a person with laryngeal or pulmonary tuberculosis sneezes, laughs, coughs, or yells, tiny water droplets containing infectious tuberculosis germs are released into the air (Hargreaves et al., 2018). These minute droplet nuclei can persist in the mood for several hours after being emitted. The disease spreads when droplet nuclei containing TB germs are breathed.
Complications
If tuberculosis (TB) is not identified and treated in a timely manner, it can be lethal. The lungs are most frequently impacted by tuberculosis (TB) while the disease is active. Numerous other health issues might also be brought on by tuberculosis (TB). Meningitis, joint damage, particularly tuberculous arthritis of the hips and knees, kidney and liver failure, as well as pain in the back and neck, often known as cervicogenic headaches, are all potential side effects of this infection (Hargreaves et al., 2018). Heart conditions like fluid buildup and irritation can cause cardiac pericardial effusion.
Treatment
Vaccination against tuberculosis is an essential prophylactic step. In regions where tuberculosis is prevalent, the bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine is frequently used to guard infants and young children against developing the disease. Due to the vaccine, it is considerably less likely that youngsters may get severe cases of tuberculosis. The BCG vaccine is not advised for broad usage in the USA due to its ineffectiveness in adults. The mainstay and most efficient technique of treating tuberculosis is still medication, though. Patients with active tuberculosis must have antibiotic symptoms for at least nine months (Medin Plus, 2019). The medicines to be used and the course of treatment is determined in part by the type of illness, age, probability of medication sensitivity, and general health of the patient. Patients should use no more than two separate TB medications for treating latent tuberculosis.
The Demographics of Interest in Tuberculosis (TB)
According to the World Health Organization, in wealthy nations, tuberculosis (TB) was once a rare illness, but since 1985, the incidence has increased. The rapid expansion of the disease is primarily attributable to the appearance of HIV, which causes AIDS. The primary contention is that having HIV impairs an individual’s immune system’s capacity to combat TB bacteria. According to the World Health Organization’s (2019) assessment, in 2017, there were 558 000 new instances of rifampicin-resistant TB strains, 82% of which were MDR-TB. However, persons of all ages are susceptible. According to morbidity data, adults in their prime working years are disproportionately affected by tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) as a Reportable Disease
The most recent version of Medin Plus includes tuberculosis on its list of conditions that need to be reported (2019). The term “notifiable diseases” refers to conditions that are thought to have a significant impact on public health and should be written about. Notifications of tuberculosis (TB) cases are forwarded to state or county health authorities as well as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical personnel and scientists must disclose the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), one of the communicable diseases (Medin Plus, 2019).
The Social Determinants of Health for Tuberculosis (TB) and their Contribution to the Development of Tuberculosis (TB)
Social determinants of health are thought to include things like an individual’s environment at birth, where they reside as adults, at work, and as they age. As a contagious illness, tuberculosis (TB) is significantly impacted by a wide range of socioeconomic health variables. The first of several social determinants of health that may have an impact on health is housing overcrowding. MTB is spread by inhaling its germs and the air, which is where it lives. The probability of engaging in high-risk social activities, such as residing or working in a crowded, poorly ventilated environment, affects one’s likelihood of being exposed to MTB, among other things (Hargreaves et al., 2018). When a patient with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) coughs, sneezes, or breathes, the bacterium spreads throughout the air in the nucleus of tiny droplets.
The second social factor that influences health is food insecurity (Hargreaves et al., 2018). Malnutrition makes the body more susceptible to illnesses as a result of a poor diet. Poor income is a critical factor in influencing those who do not have access to primary health care due to financial limitations (Duarte et al., 2018). Another social component that may affect patients’ low socioeconomic status and, in turn, pharmaceutical non-compliance and poor treatment outcomes is the stigma associated with tuberculosis (TB) (Duarte et al., 2018). Fear of getting a stigmatization diagnostic is one of the many factors that lead to the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.
The Epidemiologic Triangle of Tuberculosis (TB)
Below is a summary diagram of the epidemiologic triangle that characterizes the spread of tuberculosis (TB).
The causing agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, travels from person to person when microscopic droplet nuclei are released into the air during routine human interaction (The World Health Organization, 2019). If the virus particle nuclei are still in the air after the sick person has left, it is more probable that nearby people will become infected. Especially in crowded public spaces, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the infectious disease agent that causes tuberculosis, travels fast from infected person to afflicted person through the air through breathing encounters (Duarte et al. 2018). A dangerous environment is a result of overcrowding, poor sanitation, homelessness, the criminal justice system, and inadequate ventilation. Healthcare professionals should receive special attention since they run the danger of contracting tuberculosis from exposure to hospital patients’ diseases (Duarte et al. 2018).
The Role of the Demographic Data and Community Health Nurse Tuberculosis
The prison system, homelessness, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate ventilation are just a few factors that contribute to an unhealthy environment. Healthcare personnel should receive special attention since they are at risk for developing tuberculosis because they are frequently exposed to the illnesses that hospital patients have. (Duarte et al., 2018). By trying to keep track of patients who receive a tuberculosis diagnosis and transmitting that data to state or local agencies like the CDC so that tuberculosis control trends can be followed, public health nurses can assist in case reporting through their communication with patients. The collection of statistics used to determine the disease’s incidence and the group at risk requires the recording of demographic information. Additionally, the data is utilized to examine disease patterns, track the spread of an outbreak, and implement preventative measures. Additionally, this information is helpful in preventing future epidemics (Medin Plus, 2019). Improved care for tuberculosis patients should be a community health nurse’s main focus (Jeffries et al. 2017). Monitoring patients’ adherence to their fat-recovery regimen will help achieve this. (Jeffries et al. 2017). This can be accomplished by monitoring patients’ adherence to their fat-recovery therapy.
National Organization in Charge of Combating Tuberculosis in the US
The Nationwide Tuberculosis Controllers Association is an illustration of a national organization that deals with TB (NTCA). The organization was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1995 with help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE). Helping to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in the United States is NTCA’s principal goal (CDC, 2019a). To create standards for TB screening, intervention, testing, and medication, the NTCA also works with the CDC. The Centers for Research on Epidemiology is another organization (CDC). The organization takes part in numerous projects to identify, treat, and prevent the spread of tuberculosis (CDC, 2019b). The team is working to enhance tuberculosis (TB) lab networks and monitoring systems to enable rapid and precise diagnosis of TB.
The Global Implication of Tuberculosis
The World Health Organization (2019) lists tuberculosis (TB) as one of the top 10 global killers. For example, 10 million people acquired the illness and received a diagnosis of tuberculosis in 2007, and 1.6 million people died from it (including 0.3 million individuals with HIV). Without question, TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV (World Health Organization, 2019). According to WHO (2019) data, in 2017, a million children developed tuberculosis, with 230 000 dying from the illness. The estimated number of kids who passed away from TB because of HIV infection is not included in this figure. The rise of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), despite the best efforts of those working to cure tuberculosis, continues to be a severe cause for public concern. This strain poses a threat to world health because it is so challenging to treat (World Health Organization, 2019).
References
CDC. (2019a). National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA). Web.
CDC. (2019b). Tuberculosis (TB). Web.
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). Revista Portuguesa De Pneumologia (english Edition), 24, 2, 115-119.
Hargreaves, J. R., Boccia, D., Evans, C. A., Adato, M., Petticrew, M., & Porter, J. D. H. (2018). The Social Determinants of Tuberculosis: From Evidence to Action. American Journal of Public Health, 101, 4, 654-662. Web.
Jeffries, C., Lobue, P., Chorba, T., Metchock, B., & Kashef, I. (2017). Role of the Health Department in Tuberculosis Prevention and Control—Legal and Public Health Considerations. Microbiology spectrum, 5(2), 5-2. Web.
Medin Plus. (2019). Reportable diseases. Web.
The World Health Organization. (2019). Tuberculosis. Web.