Week 2 Discussion Topic 1 Disease Outbreak
University:
SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Week 2 Discussion Topic 1 Disease Outbreak
Paper Instructions
TASK
Post your initial response to one of the two topics below.
Epidemiology’s Role in Infectious and Communicable Diseases
Topic 1 Disease Outbreak
Select an infectious disease and research the CDC website for information about the disease including
- Its natural history,
- Presenting symptoms, and
- Outbreak characteristics
- Identify an occurrence of the disease by searching the Internet for recent reports of this disease and compare that episode or occurrence with information from the CDC website.
- How closely did that outbreak resemble the case definition?
Topic 2 Epidemiological Applications
- Describe how the concept of multifactorial etiology relates to the natural history of disease and the different levels of prevention.
- How should the nurse incorporate these concepts into health promotion of clients in community settings?
- How should the nurse approach client risk in these health promotion activities?
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Sample Answer
Week 2 Discussion
Chickenpox is the selected infectious disease for this discussion. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox. The virus remains in the sensory nerve ganglia as latent infection following its primary infection. The incubation period of varicella ranges between 14 and 16 days following its exposure. The incubation period for herpes zoster rash ranges between 10 and 21 days.
The exposed develop mild malaise and rash 1-2 days before developing a rash. Patients affected by chickenpox presents with classic symptoms that include itchy, fluid-filled rashes. The rashes change into scabs. The rashes affect the back, chest, and face followed by spreading to the entire body. Other symptoms that are associated with chickenpox include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache (CDC, 2021a).
Chickenpox outbreak is declared if at least five cases of the infection are reported in a setting. Outbreak management entails immunization, symptomatic management, and isolation of the affected. Increased uptake of immunization services has reduced significantly the rates of chickenpox in the USA(CDC, 2021b).
However, states still report few cases of the infection. For example, a case of Chickenpox was reported in Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington in 2021. The student was treated and isolated to prevent a further spread of the infection among college students. States such as Florida continue to report few cases of chickenpox due to increased immunization of the population. For example, the five-year prevalence of chickenpox in Florida was 51 in 2021.
The number was insignificant when divided into the counties in Florida. The current rates of chickenpox are minimal compared to the 1980s when the uptake of immunizations and discovery of effective vaccines was still low (Florida Health, 2021). Therefore, the adopted public health initiatives to address chickenpox have been effective.
References
- CDC. (2021a, April 28). Chickenpox Signs and Symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https //www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/symptoms.html
CDC. (2021b, August 11). Chickenpox for HCPs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https //www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/hcp/index.html
- Florida Health.(2021). Varicella (Chickenpox) in Florida | Florida Department of Health. http //www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/vaccine-preventable-disease/varicella/index.html
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