Communicable Diseases All over the World - Essay Example

? Community Health- Communicable Diseases of Affiliate Part A Introduction Measles or Rubeola is a communicable disease that affects mostly children under the age of five years. Before extensive vaccination of the disease, approximated related deaths were 2.6 million every year, in 1980 according to a study conducted by (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2012). The disease is transmitted via a virus that belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. This virus is a single stranded RNA virus. Human beings are the only hosts for the agent where the virus comfortably thrives in cells lining the back of the throat and lungs. This highly transmissible virus is spread via coughing, sneezing, contact with infected nasal or throat secretions or physical contact with infected individual. It can remain in the air or infected surface in its active virulent form for as long as two hours. Infected individuals can spread the virus from four days before up to four days after the manifestation of the signs or symptoms (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2012). Respiratory diseases such as measles and Tuberculosis are usually very communicable because most of them are transmitted airborne. Care should be taken to ensure that in case of an outbreak the disease is contained within the shortest time possible to prevent an epidemic. Epidemiological Indicators Epidemiological indicators may be confused as they are similar to normal flu; however there are key indicators that would help one identify the symptoms with ease. Measles is characterized by high fever with temperatures higher or equal to 38.70 C, red watery eyes (a condition referred to as conjuvitis), runny nose and cough. These manifest 6 to10 days after infection with the virus. There is appearance of a red discolored rash on the face and the upper neck area accompanied by appearance of white-bluish spots in the buccal cavity, inside the cheeks. Similar rashes to those on the face and upper neck region, eventually spread to other parts of the body including the feet later. The rash disappears on its own, 5-6 days after its onset. Complications are very rare but when the immune system is compromised or in very severe cases, measles can lead to encephalitis, damage and infections to the middle respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea. Laboratory analysis involves Enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay, positive serologic analysis of IgM measles antibodies and significant increase in IgG measles antibody levels or by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the virus from a medical case (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). According to Killewo (2010) is to watch for the median value between the time when the rashes appear and when they reappear. Killewo continues to explain that epdeniological indicators show that the disease mostly affects children less than five years old and the very elderly. A study conducted in 2006 Somalia revealed that the disease mostly affects malnourished children leading to 50% to 80% of the deaths. Epidemiological indicators are important because they help doctors and practitioners to come up with effective preventive measures. Infection with measles remains high in regions where it is still endemic like some places in Africa and Asia. Most of these places are at high risk due to poor economy and poor coordination in and decentralized health systems. War conflicts and natural outbreaks have great significance in deadly measles outbreaks. The disease also spreads at great pace due to high population and low nutrition associated with these regions especially due to overcrowding in camps. However, most countries have been able to put it under control by introduction of measles vaccine. In the mid 20th century, as many as close to 1 million cases of measles infections were reported in the United States. Thanks to the measles vaccine, this number has reduced to as low as 150 cases as reported in the United States towards the end of the 20th century. Such progress led to the disease being declared non endemic in the U.S.A in the beginning of the 21st century. 67 cases were however reported with 0.2% of these occurring among resident individuals who had travelled to foreign countries and 0.07% occurring among foreign visitors, in 2009 (World Health Organization, 2011). Routes of Transmission Measles is primarily transported airborne leading to outbreaks. Medical studies have shown conclusively that the virus that causes measles is tranported airborne and that the virus has the capacity to remain in the air for very long period of time. According to a study conducted by Arias (2010), children visiting a pediatrician’s office were infected with measles around two hours after an infected child left the office. Measles can also be transmitted through medical equipments such as syringes. Practitioners are always advised to ensure that they use clean and sterilized for every child that visits a hospital to avoid infections. In the United States, the immunization policy has helped reduce measles infections and new cases of measles are usually due to importation of the virus from other countries outside the US. According to Arias (2010), measles outbreaks can be reduced significantly through the following of immunization guidelines for both children and adults. In addition, new cases should be identified quickly and quarantined and post exposure immunization administered. International Outbreak Pattern Figure 1 shows graphical representation of fully investigated measles outbreak in six selected countries from Asia. India, Indonesia and Myanmar show the highest records of the cases with India being the highest due to overcrowding. Outbreak of measles would be serious in a community that has poor sanitation, is overcrowded and there is low income accompanied with poor health. Measles is highly contagious spreading via sneezing coughing and close contact. Individuals with poor immune systems and with no immunity to measles are at the highest risk. Hygiene is of particular importance in the prevention of the spread of measles. The general realization is that measles mostly affects communities where there are poor hygienic conditions and congestion. In case of an outbreak, the disease can spread among the population and lead to an epidemic within a very short period of time. Disease outbreaks are common in Asia and Africa where populations live in slum areas with poor sanitation facilities and congestion (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In addition, countries where poor immunization strategies have been implemented are also at risk of an outbreak. For instance, when the health system does not have the capacity to respond effectively to a reported case, or the infected individual continues to stay within the community, then an outbreak will be inevitable. The case of the United States is very important to consider because the country has managed to put measles outbreak under control. New cases are almost always from patients travelling from outside the US. The immunization and response procedures contribute significantly to the control and prevention of the disease. Figure 1 Part B Protocol for Reporting Possible Measles Outbreak I would report to the healthcare centre first so as alert other health workers and patients for possible disease outbreak. This is important so that preventive measures are taken.The public health unit is next contacted so that it can work closely with the government and the media for public awareness and precautionary actions together with treatment of reported cases.Since a large number of patients are reporting at once a Major Incident Plan is activated. Austere Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) guidelines should be rigorously followed with no exemption to avoid cross infections between the patients and nurses and other health care personell attending the patients.Drugs that are prescribed for the condition should be in ample supply to meet the demand for drug therapy treatment. In essence, response to such a highly contagious disease should always be aimed at quarantining the reported cases and administering medication. In addition, the occurrence of new cases should be prevented at all costs. In conditions where the air quality index(AQI) is above 200 parts per billion(ppb), asthmatic clients and those having respiratory problems are foremost adviced to take caution as they go through their daily chores.Excercise is very important for healthy body altogether, however patients in such conditions are adviced to avoid involving activities.Open-air activities are avoided as exposure to the bad air conditions would accelerate chances of the individual getting asthma attacks.The outdoor activities should be done during morning hours.Indoor activities are encouraged but with limited involvement. As there is no actual procedure in managememt of attacks when AQI is poor,one should consider increase in use of medication at this time. References Arias, K. M. (2010). Outbreak investigation, prevention, and control in health care settings: Critical issues for patient safety. Sadbury, CA: Jones & Bartlett. Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2012). CDC Health Information for International Travel 2012: The Yellow Book. New York: Oxford University Press. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, April). Measles: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html Killewo, J. (2010). Epidemiology and Demography in Public Health. San Diego, CA: Elsevier. World Health Organization. (2011, October). Measles. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/ Read More