Epidemiology Paper
Epidemiology
Kenya Story
Grand Canyon University
Concepts in Community and Public Health
NRS-427V
Colleen Darrow
July 26, 2014
Epidemiology
Description According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria normally infects the lung but can invade any organ such as the spine, kidney and brain. If the infection is not appropriately treated the person can die (CDC, 2012). There are two TB related conditions: latent TB infection and TB disease. TB is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. For instance, coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing by someone infected with TB; people in close proximity may inhale these microorganisms and become ill (World Health Organization, 2014a). TB is not transmitted by kissing, shaking hands, sharing foods, sharing a toilet seat or using the same tooth brush.
Latent TB has no symptoms and the immune system keeps the TB inactive without spread to other people. However if the immune system becomes weak the person can develop active TB disease. TB disease symptoms can include low grade fever, weight loss, night sweats, listlessness, cough, hemoptysis, positive skin test, respiratory congestion, and abnormal chest x-ray / sputum culture (Maurer & Smith, 2013). If left untreated TB can be fatal or lead to other complications that spread to the blood stream and infect the brain, bones, liver or kidneys. If the bones become involved spinal pain and joint destruction are possible. TB in the brain can cause meningitis and if it attacks the heart it could cause cardiac tamponed. If TB infects the kidney/liver the person cannot eliminate waste properly (Mayo Clinic, 2013).
Treatment for latent TB depends on your risk of developing TB disease (CDC, 2014). In order to control and hopefully eradicate TB those with latent TB are often
Kenya Story
Grand Canyon University
Concepts in Community and Public Health
NRS-427V
Colleen Darrow
July 26, 2014
Epidemiology
Description According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria normally infects the lung but can invade any organ such as the spine, kidney and brain. If the infection is not appropriately treated the person can die (CDC, 2012). There are two TB related conditions: latent TB infection and TB disease. TB is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. For instance, coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing by someone infected with TB; people in close proximity may inhale these microorganisms and become ill (World Health Organization, 2014a). TB is not transmitted by kissing, shaking hands, sharing foods, sharing a toilet seat or using the same tooth brush.
Latent TB has no symptoms and the immune system keeps the TB inactive without spread to other people. However if the immune system becomes weak the person can develop active TB disease. TB disease symptoms can include low grade fever, weight loss, night sweats, listlessness, cough, hemoptysis, positive skin test, respiratory congestion, and abnormal chest x-ray / sputum culture (Maurer & Smith, 2013). If left untreated TB can be fatal or lead to other complications that spread to the blood stream and infect the brain, bones, liver or kidneys. If the bones become involved spinal pain and joint destruction are possible. TB in the brain can cause meningitis and if it attacks the heart it could cause cardiac tamponed. If TB infects the kidney/liver the person cannot eliminate waste properly (Mayo Clinic, 2013).
Treatment for latent TB depends on your risk of developing TB disease (CDC, 2014). In order to control and hopefully eradicate TB those with latent TB are often
References: Center for Diseases Control and Prevention. Basic TB facts (2012). Retrieved on July 27, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm Center for Diseases control: Global Health strategy 2012-2015, retrieved on August 1, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/strategy/pdf/CDC-GlobalHealthStrategy.pdf Maurer, F., Smith, C. (2013). Retrieved July 27, 2014 from Community/Public Health Nursing Practice, 5th Edition Meadow, P. (2009). Community health nurse. American Journal of Nursing. Retrieved from: journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2009/01001/ community_Health_Nursing.5aspx Disease and condition TB Mayo Clinic, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/basics/complications/con- 20021761 World Health Organization (2014a) http://www.who.int/topics/tuberculosis/en/ World Health Organization (2014b)