Epidemiology Of Tuberculosis Essay

Epidemiology of Tuberculosis
Christy Lilly
Grand Canyon University - NRS 427V
Jen Costello
June 6, 2015
Epidemiology of Tuberculosis
World travel has become more commonplace and people are no longer destined to remain on a single continent. Travel’s ease and affordability have made the spread of disease easier. One of those diseases that is spread worldwide is tuberculosis (TB).
Description of Tuberculosis
Since ancient times tuberculosis has been present, it was also known as Consumption. Despite current advanced medical screenings, diagnostics, and treatment methods, approximately one-third of the world’s population has been exposed and is infected with the organism (Mandal, 2014, para. 2). Becoming infected with TB usually occurs
M. tuberculosis is a rod-shaped slow growing bacteria that is hydrophobic. It was first isolated in 1882 by Robert Koch and identified as an infectious disease (Mandal, 2014, para. 8).
Symptoms
In active TB, any, all, or none of the following symptoms may be present: persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss, decreased appetite, fever, hemoptysis, and night sweats. In latent tuberculosis infections, the patient is not contagious and cannot spread the bacteria. Latent TB infection occurs when there is exposure but an immune response occurs which manages the bacteria by walling it off and causing it to be dormant in the body. If a LTBI is treated at this stage, a subsequent active TB infection can be prevented (Murphy & Bernardo, 2013, para. 5).

Mode of Transmission
Tuberculosis is transmitted via droplet contact, when someone with an active TB coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs, very small droplets of saliva or mucous are expelled into the air. People in the vicinity of this infected person inhale these particles which can remain suspended in the air for several hours (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013, p. 21). Infection occurs in the host when these inhaled micro-particles reach alveoli in the
Patient education is paramount regarding medication compliance, adverse side effects of medications, timeliness seeking medical attention, isolation potential, and TB infection control measures. Currently, ten drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for tuberculosis treatment.
Demographics
Tuberculosis is a worldwide disease, mainly acquired by young adults, yet all age groups are at risk. In 2013, over 500,000 children contracted TB. In 2013, fifty-six percent of new cases occurred in Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions (WHO, 2015b). The estimated number of new cases annually is declining and the death rate decreased forty-five percent from 1990-2013. Approximately thirty-seven million lives were spared due to diagnosis and treatment during that same time (WHO, 2015b).
Determinants of Health
There are many factors that increase risks of infection like a person’s location of residence and travelling habits. India, China, Russia, and Africa all have high rates of drug-resistant forms of TB. Situations where people live in close proximity such as nursing homes, prisons, and homeless camps, contain high incidences of TB infections due to close living quarters, poor health and nutrition all increase risk. Low income populations and those who live in remote areas, lack medical care needed to diagnosis and treat TB. Substance abuse increases the risk of contracting