Communicable diseases: Types, symptoms, prevention

Running head: COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
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Introduction
With the global burden of disease, the communicable respiratory infection has gained
increased attention in the field of public health research. Influenza or flu is one such
communicable respiratory infection that affected more thousands of individuals every year. The
common symptoms of the flu exhibited by the population include muscle and joint pain,
headache, runny nose, high fever, breathlessness and fatigued. The common causative agent is
the Influenza virus, a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family (Sah et al., 2019). In the United
States, the burden of flu has placed a substantial burden on the United States, accounting for
140,000 – 810,000 hospitalization and 61000 deaths every year since 2010. This statistical data
highlighted a need for developing comprehensive policies. This essay aims to provide an in-
depth analysis of including causes, mode of transmission, symptoms, treatment and
complications, epidemiological research, determinants of health and role of public health nurses
in relation to the disease in following paragraphs.
Discussion
Description of the disease:
Influenza, also called the flu", is an infectious respiratory disease initiated by an
influenza virus and belong to Orthomyxoviridae. Dalziel et al. (2018), influenza can spread
through the air and travel a short distance. Considering transmission, Influenza virus may
be transferred amongst humans in 3 ways such as direct interaction with infected persons;
contact with contaminated substances such as toys, doorknob and through inhaling virus-laden
aerosols. Children, older individuals and women are at high risk of emerging the disease. On the

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other hand, Reich et al. (2019), suggested that residents of a nursing home in the long term care,
the patients with immune suppressive drugs or weak immune systems are at high risk of
emerging the disease. The virus usually inflects lungs, nose and throat of the individuals and
multiply within 1 week of the exposure. The usual onset infection usually observed within 1 day
of exposure (Dalziel et al., 2018). The common clinical manifestations of the flu include fever,
chills, runny nose, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, watering eye and redness. The children often
experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, and body ache. Considering the diagnosis of the infection,
the culture of sputum from the nose, throat are usually used for diagnosis since it can confirm the
infections (Dalziel et al., 2018). On the other hand, a polymerase chain reaction is one common
diagnosis in the hospital that can confirm the test as it is more sensitive in detecting influenza. In
order to treat influenza, antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, Xofluza, Relenza and Rapivab are
provided so that complications can be prevented. The common vaccination for influenza is flu
shots that can protect against viral infections (Sah et al., 2019). Other non-pharmacological
measures can be drinking water, rest and pain management. Reich et al. (2019), highlighted that
common complications of influenza include pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and heart problem.
Demographic and epidemiology:
Acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia as well as influenza, 8th leading cause of
death in the United States. The most affected demographic affected by the flu include North
America, northern Africa, West Africa. Considering the statistics of USA, in 2019, flu was
widespread in 30 states of the United States, accounting for 2000 deaths and 41000
hospitalizations (Www.cdc.gov., 2020). A recent report of the CDC suggested that
approximately 38 million infectious patients and 390000 hospitalization and approximately
23000 deaths were conducted by influenza (Www.cdc.gov., 2020). Considering the incidence of