NRS 428 Concepts in Community and Public Health Epidemiology Paper
Communicable disease refers to an infectious disorder readily transmitted from one individual to another either by direct contact with an infected person or indirectly by means of a vector disseminated through cough or sneeze (Montiel et al., 2022). Most often, people, water, food, or animals can act as agents of transmission of contagious illnesses from one person to the other. Over the past decades, transmittable disorders have contributed immensely to the burden of health globally. These conditions are associated with physical as well as emotional and financial problems that directly affect the coping strategies of affected communities which then necessitates a need to address them.
Clinicians, doctors, and nurses use concepts of epidemiology to advance research on these communicable disorders. These models used to study contagious diseases enhance understanding that can be used to explain the chain of infections to guide decisions not only on treatment but also to prevent their transmission (Zegeye et al., 2022). Epidemiological studies also involve concepts on the risk factors of the diseases, incidences as well as mortality rates in relation to these illnesses. There are different communicable diseases but this research singles out human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The concepts of epidemiology will be used to gather understanding about the causes, manifestations, therapeutic options, and the impact of the condition on the life of those affected. Nursing theories will also be used to provide an understanding of pertinent issues on HIV.
Description of Communicable Disease
HIV is a viral transmittable condition that attacks the immune system of those infected. The virus occurs when one is infected with either HIV-1 or HIV-2 strains. The latter are retroviruses that make up the Retroviridae family which also belongs to the Lentivirus genus (Staupe-Delgado & Rubin, 2022). When not treated, HIV causes a serious health condition known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
HIV occurs in breast milk, semen, vaginal fluid, and blood of the infected individuals. Often, the virus attacks the immune system of the body and thus progresses to AIDs. HIV depletes CD4+ lymphocytes in the human body and this impairs cell-mediated protection, therefore, predisposing those infected to opportunistic infections. The manifestation of the virus ranges from asymptomatic carriers to those with full-blown conditions of AIDS (Zegeye et al., 2022). Transmission of the virus involves direct contact with HIV-infected blood predominantly through unprotected sexual intercourse, unsafe surgical procedures, or breastfeeding. Once in the body, the virus causes damage to vital organs such as kidneys, brain, heart, and gonads. Besides, HIV causes cognitive impairment, cardiomyopathy, renal insufficiency, and hypogonadism.
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HIV manifests differently in the human body. Initially, the virus causes primary infection leading to acute retroviral syndrome. The latter manifests predominant symptoms of general body weakness, dermatitis, arthralgias, septic meningitis, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, and sore throat. However, these symptoms may disappear for 2 to 15 years even without treatment which may make those infected to be passive transmitters of the virus. In the asymptomatic period, HIV symptoms are directly related to opportunistic infections which include diarrhea, white plaques in the mouth, lymphadenopathy, fever, and fatigue (Montiel et al., 2022). Some HIV-infected patients experience unexplained weight loss related to increased catabolism in addition to low-grade fevers. Notably, common symptoms of the virus may also include night sweats, coughs, sore throats, headaches, swollen and lymph nodes. These clinical manifestations disappear between 3 and 4 weeks after which full-blown symptoms emerge when the immune system has been impaired.
HIV and AIDs compromise the immune system of those infected which leads to numerous opportunistic disorders. The most common opportunistic complication of HIV is tuberculosis. However, other infections associated with HIV include Candidiasis, Cryptococcal Meningitis, Salmonellosis, and Toxoplasmosis.
Despite efforts made to address the infection, people still remain adamant about HIV which has led to the rise in infection. While the HIV screening
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