Communicable Disease Paper Essay Example
Communicable Disease Paper
Jennifer K. Rhodes
University of Phoenix
Public and Community Health
HCS 457
Heather Steiner
March 14, 2011
Communicable Disease Paper Chickenpox is a communicable disease and “one of the classic childhood diseases” (National Institute of Health [NIH], para. 1). In the past, when parents heard a child had come down with chickenpox, parents would form chickenpox parties so other children would contact chickenpox and acquire lifelong immunity. Today another, more controlled method is used for children to benefit from the chickenpox antibodies (Wimer, Emm, & Bader, 2004). This and other information on chickenpox will be expanded on by describing the disease and efforts to control chickenpox by including data findings, evidence-based intervention, and a plan to ensure quality health. Additionally, a discussion to identify available resources to assist with treatment and care, the environmental factors related to chickenpox, and the influence of lifestyles, socioeconomic status, and disease management will assist in controlling chickenpox. Furthermore, to help ensure public health, gaps and methods for linking other resources to meet needs that not locally available for the population, will be identified, including recommendations to expand communities’ programs to close the gaps. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that is a member of the herpes virus family. Chickenpox is spread through the air when a person coughs or sneezes and by direct contact with an infected person. Once a person is infected, symptoms take 10 to 21 days to be recognized. Symptoms begin with “a fever, headache, tummy ache, or loss of appetite for a day or two before breaking out in the classic pox rash” ([NIH], para. 9), which are itchy blisters. These symptoms continue after the rash appears for two to four more days. People are contagious from the onset of symptoms until all the blisters scab over, approximately four to
Jennifer K. Rhodes
University of Phoenix
Public and Community Health
HCS 457
Heather Steiner
March 14, 2011
Communicable Disease Paper Chickenpox is a communicable disease and “one of the classic childhood diseases” (National Institute of Health [NIH], para. 1). In the past, when parents heard a child had come down with chickenpox, parents would form chickenpox parties so other children would contact chickenpox and acquire lifelong immunity. Today another, more controlled method is used for children to benefit from the chickenpox antibodies (Wimer, Emm, & Bader, 2004). This and other information on chickenpox will be expanded on by describing the disease and efforts to control chickenpox by including data findings, evidence-based intervention, and a plan to ensure quality health. Additionally, a discussion to identify available resources to assist with treatment and care, the environmental factors related to chickenpox, and the influence of lifestyles, socioeconomic status, and disease management will assist in controlling chickenpox. Furthermore, to help ensure public health, gaps and methods for linking other resources to meet needs that not locally available for the population, will be identified, including recommendations to expand communities’ programs to close the gaps. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus that is a member of the herpes virus family. Chickenpox is spread through the air when a person coughs or sneezes and by direct contact with an infected person. Once a person is infected, symptoms take 10 to 21 days to be recognized. Symptoms begin with “a fever, headache, tummy ache, or loss of appetite for a day or two before breaking out in the classic pox rash” ([NIH], para. 9), which are itchy blisters. These symptoms continue after the rash appears for two to four more days. People are contagious from the onset of symptoms until all the blisters scab over, approximately four to