Hcs 457 Communicable Disease

Communicable Disease Paper
Charlotte Hall
HCS457
Sarah Dunn
3/4/2013

Communicable Disease Paper
Communicable disease is a notifiable disease; this is any disease that is required to be reported (HEALTH, 2005). Communicable disease includes sexually transmitted diseases (STD) like Chlamydia. Chlamydia is a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis and is a commonly reported STD (Services, 2012). This disease may not have any symptoms to indicate a problem within the person. Chlamydia affects more woman than men and is reported to be common in men and women between the ages of 15 – 24 (Division, 2012). Chlamydia can be treated with the use of antibiotics, without antibiotics the disease can cause other health issues within the patient or an unborn child. The government has implemented the process of testing for sexually transmitted diseases in patient as part of a routine physical. These tests would detect the disease and allow the physician to treat the patient with antibiotics.
Young adults and adolescence are involved in unprotected sexual intercourse increasing his or her risk of contracting the disease or another disease.
Sexually active person also engage in multiple sexual partners increasing the chance of spreading the disease to others (Division, 2012). These behaviors lead to the spread of the disease and increase the risk factors within the community. Lack of education contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Another environmental factor is the lack of financial stability; this disables the person ability to obtain medical attention like yearly physicals or testing for the sexually transmitted disease. Peer pressure has influenced young adults to have multiple sexual partners or unprotected sex with the partner (Services,
2012). A person’s lifestyle can influence a person’s sexual curiosity and thought on sexual intercourse. A young woman within a home which displays sexual activity is likely to become sexually active at a young age and increase her risk of contracting a sexual transmitted disease. Socioeconomic status contributes to the care of sexually transmitted diseases and the education. Lacking in financial stability can reduce the chance a person is capable of obtaining health care for the disease. Families from lower income families or without medical insurance are less likely to obtain health care than a family that is financially stable. Some people are afraid that his or her name will be released or other people are going to find out he or she has the disease. When a patient is diagnosed with the disease he or she is treated by his or her physician. Some people may receive treatment through a clinic or the health department. Patient are given more information on the disease and given internet sites to look up more information on the treatment of the communicable disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides information on the disease, treatments, and prevention of the disease. The public health department provides education people on communicable diseases; this is done by providing pamphlets to the patients on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The health department also provides young adults with contraceptives to reduce the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (HEALTH, 2005). The health department provides a hotline for the patients to discuss concerns over the disease. Educating the public by providing information on the treatments and prevention is the most effective way to reduce the threat of the disease. Over the last ten years sexually transmitted diseases have increase and the research into the cure for STD’s has continued. Some diseases can be cured with antibiotics but some still are not curable (HEALTH, 2005). The reports indicate the prevention methods have not decreased the number of cases and indicate more education is necessary. Chlamydia can be cure with antibiotics. Providing additional education to young adults and programs to educate the public of the risk factors and effects of the diseases, this will make people more aware of the problem and the importance of protecting his or herself from the disease. The plan is to get the word out to more people on treatment and prevention. Communicable disease is any disease that is required to be reported to the department of public health. These diseases can include Chlamydia, HIV, or chickenpox. Each one has to be reported and treated to reduce the spreading to others.

References
Division, P. H. (2012, May). Public.Health.Oregon.gov. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2013, from http://Public.Health.Oregon.gov: http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/DiseasesAZ/Pages/disease.aspx?did=79
HEALTH, A. S. (2005, Aug. 5). www.healthy.arkansas.gov/aboutADH/RulesRegs/communicable_disease.pdf. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2013, from www.healthy.arkansas.gov: http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/aboutADH/RulesRegs/communicable_disease.pdf
Services, W. D. (2012, June 25). Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Retrieved Feb. 27, 2013, from www.dhs.wisconsin.gov: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/STD/Chlamydia.htm