Communicable Disease

Communicable Disease HCS 457 September 24, 2012 ling ko Steiner Communicable Disease tuberculosis is a communicable infirmity that affects a persons lungs. terabit (TB) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium. Un hard-boiled TB chamberpot be fatal, in the past TB was the leading cause of death in the United States. There are ii TB related conditions that exit latent TB infection and Active TB infection. TB can be transmitted to sepa invests when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the Center for Disease Control (2010), TB disease is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal (CDC, 2010, para. 3). Much like the common cold, TB is blossom by an infected person breathing, coughing, speaking, or sneezing into the air however, not every ane who acquires TB has sympto ms. Latent TB infection occurs when one breathes in the bacteria can fight off the infection. Persons with latent TB give up no symptoms and are not contagious unless the bacterium becomes active in ones body.Once the affection is active it becomes active TB, and the person will become sick. People who drive weakened immune systems because of other illness are more susceptible to contracting active TB. According to the CDC (2010), The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, titty pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected (CDC, 2010, para. ). According to U. S. National Library of Medicine (2011), The following factors may increase the rate of TB infection in a population Increase in HIV infections, Increase in number of homeless people (poor environment and nutrition). In the United States, there are approximately 10 cases of TB per 100,000 people. However, rates vary dramatically by area of residence and socioeconomic status. (2011). A crack in care concerning TB patients is directly related to cultural beliefs and perceptions concerning disease.Cultural beliefs have a significant heart and soul on the spread of disease and treatment options. For example, the Hmong in the United States represent a Southeast Asiatic minority group who immigrated to the United States. Many of the Hmong have settled in the Minneapolis metro area. The Hmong people witness an especially high rate of Tuberculosis (TB). Cultural influences play a significant part in diagnosing and controlling the spread of TB among the Hmong population. The diction barrier is just one issue that wellness care workers have trouble with.According to Culture Care Connection (2010), One persistent programmatic implication is that because the Hmong language lacks words for more biomedical or physiological concepts, communication requires proxy words to convey these ideas. new-fashioned Hmong words may even need to be created in order to convey Western impairment or concepts (Culture Care, 2010 para. 6). To close the gap the atomic number 25 discussion section of Health needs to educate minority groups and health care providers about how to effectively communicate with one another.The study conducted by the CDC determined that although the Hmong were familiar with around TB symptoms the lack of education concerning the disease is a major roadblock to treatment. The study found that many Hmong believed that TB could not be transmitted by dint of the air and that it could only be contracted by associating with unclean people. According to the CDC (2010), Common misconceptions included that TB was transmitted by sharing eating utensils, through body fluids, or by kissing. Some participants believed TB was caused by unhygienic conditions (CDC, 2010, para. 7).Many r espondents said that TB is a source of shame in the community and that shame would prevent many from seeking out treatment. The Minnesota Department of Health has initiated a TB prevention and control program collaborates with local public health departments statewide. The program collects and analyzes surveillance data to monitor epidemiologic trends and provides consultation to clinicians and local public health departments to match appropriate clinical management and adequate therapy for TB patients and persons exposed to TB disease (2012). In conclusion, Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium.Untreated TB can be fatal. People who have weakened immune systems because of other illness are more susceptible to contracting active TB. A gap in care concerning TB patients is directly related to cultural beliefs and perceptions concerning disease. Cultural beliefs have a significant effect on the spread of disease and treatment options. To close the g ap the Minnesota Department of Health needs to educate minority groups and health care providers about how to effectively communicate with one another. References CDC (2010). Common Perceptions, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Tuberculosis among the Lao Hmong. ttp//www. cdc. gov/tb/publications/guidestoolkits/EthnographicGuides/Hmong Culture Care Connection. (2010). Retrieved from http//www. culturecareconnection. org/matters/diversity/hmong. html McArdle, M. (2011, October). granting immunity Is Futile.. The Atlantic, (), . doigalegroup. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/ Minnesota Department of Health. (2012). Retrieved from http//www. health. state. mn. us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/program. html U. S. National Library of Medicine . (2011). pulmonary tuberculosis. Retrieved from http//www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001141/