Communicable disease outbreak - HAT Task 3 Analyze the selected communicable disease outbreak: SARS Disease overview Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness begins with a high fever (greater than 100.4 degrees F). The fever is sometimes associated with chills or other symptoms, including headache, general feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some individuals experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset. Diarrhea is seen in approximately 10 to 20 percent of patients.
Epidemic Outbreak of “The Herpes Virus” (Assignment #1) Herpes is an infection caused by the etiologic agents Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is the type generally known for causing oral herpes outbreaks, also known as cold sores or fever blisters. These blisters last from a week to a month, becoming open sores that crust over with scabs. The outbreak following the initial infection (usually a few days to a few weeks afterward) is usually the worst—the ones after that are less painful. Some people actually confuse their mild outbreaks with other skin conditions such as “eczema”.
The PMT procedure was successful and revascularisation was achieved 3 hours post symptom onset. A large degree of disability was still present post revascularisation which required extensive rehabilitation. The patient was scheduled to go home three weeks from the time of interview, having already undergone 6 months of hospital treatment and rehabilitation. Pathology: The primary pathology impacting this patient is his history of a major cerebrovascular accident involving the left middle cerebral artery. When a cerebral artery is blocked it results in ischemia and if untreated infarction of brain tissue and neural cells in the vessels preceding vascular territory (Collins, 2007).
Mononucleosis(mono) Thomas Patrick 8/19/14 4th period Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is a contagious illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The infection can be spread by saliva, and the incubation period for mono is four to eight weeks. Most adults have laboratory evidence (antibodies against the EBV) indicative of a previous infection with EBV and are immune to further infection. The symptoms of mono include fever, fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The diagnosis of mono is confirmed by blood tests.
This was a surprise to me because I have always associated RSV with the infant population. According to Pruitt, ‘This contagious infection is more common in older adults than infants – and potentially just as deadly’ (Pruitt 62). He cites that a recent study has estimated that 14,000 older and high-risk adults die each year from RSV. These high risks include patients with COPD, heart failure, asthma and diabetes (62). Peaking in January and February, Respiratory syncytial virus is the virus causing most common colds, when it is limited to the upper respiratory tract.
What causes it? • Chicken pox is caused by a very contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. • It is an airbourne virus, which means it is easily and rapidly spread through sneezing and coughing. Droplets of water expelled from the nose and mouth of the infected person are inhaled by those around them • The infection may also be caused by direct contact with the secretions from the blisters. • The varicella virus has an incubation period of between 10 and 21 days.
The first signs and symptoms of any infection should immediately be put to the attention of the health care provider. The signs and symptoms that are recognized with a pneumonia diagnosis are as follows: coughing with sputum production, pleuritic chest pain that is exacerbated by breathing and coughing, sudden chills, rapidly rising fever above 101ºF, abnormal lung sounds, dyspnea, tachypnea,
Also, according to Robin Fields, (2010), the incidence of venous needle dislodgement is one of the most dreadful and yet most preventable problems encountered by patients receiving hemodialysis in the industrialized world. The author is a Clinical Manager of a 16-chair outpatient hemodialysis clinic. He has noted that on a three month review of QRR submitted report from January 2012 to December 2012; his clinic has reported an average of 3 needle infiltrations each month. These needle infiltrations predispose patients to venous needle dislodgement. The average age of the general population at the author’s clinic is 60 and above.
According to the (CDC) (2013), it is explained that the “flu” is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every winter, typically the months September through February. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and can be spread by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. The CDC defines symptoms of the flu as: fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache or runny/ stuffy nose. The geriatric population is considered a high risk group. Traditionally, the geriatric population has existing aliments therefore, if they were to contact the flu it could exacerbate their existing health conditions.
Both disease's have flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, weakness, chills, and sore throat. In addition, Ebola and Black Plague, specifically Pneumonic Plague, can be contacted by human to human contact specifically through blood or bodily fluids seeping into broken skin. Once the Ebola virus transmits to humans, it takes two to twenty one days to show the flu-like symptoms. For the Black Plague, specifically the Bubonic and Septicemic plague, it takes about three to seven days to show flu like symptoms. For the Pneumonic plague, symptoms will automatically develop within one to three days after exposure to bacteria.