Introduction
Influenza pandemics occur about three times a century, killing up to twenty percent of the world’s population. At the same time, influenza is a very common disease, occurring frequently between pandemics. Understanding the nature of the disease is necessary to improve treatment methods, which in turn directly impact the elimination of the consequences of the general spread of influenza. Despite significant advances in medical science, influenza remains a virtually uncontrollable global infection causing enormous socio-economic damage.
Description of the Disease
Influenza is a severe viral infection that affects men, women, and children of all ages and nationalities. Epidemics occur every year, usually during the cold season. Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections rank first by the number of cases globally; their share in the structure of infectious diseases reaches 95% (World Health Organization, 2022). Influenza is caused by the flu virus, which belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae. The main causes are associated with mutations in the virus’s genetic material, which leads to the emergence of new strains and subtypes. An acute infection of the upper respiratory tract characterizes influenza. The main symptoms include fever, cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, weakness, headache, muscle and joint pain (Javanian et al., 2021). Airborne droplets primarily transmit it, and complications can be serious, including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, myocarditis, encephalitis, and exacerbation of pre-existing chronic conditions.
In people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and the elderly, complications can be especially dangerous and lead to hospitalization or death. Treatment of the flu includes symptomatic therapy, such as fluids, fever-reducing medications, cough medicines, and nasal congestion relief. According to the CDC, as of Feb. 15, 2020, 29 million people in the United States have been sick with the flu, 280,000 have been hospitalized, and at least 16,000 have died (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Thus, the 2020 influenza season is among the most challenging in a decade, exceeding Covid-19 incidence rates.
Reasons for Registration and Reporting Criteria
Influenza is a considerable public health concern because it has the potential to cause widespread epidemics and pandemics that can cause significant illness and death. Therefore, it is subject to mandatory reporting of cases according to reporting criteria established by public health authorities. These criteria include primarily confirmed influenza cases that can be detected by laboratory testing (Javanian et al., 2021). Moreover, the reporting criteria contain the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to influenza. Merely as notably, reporting may be done in selected populations where an outbreak has previously occurred.
Impact of Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants are those environmental factors and conditions that directly impact a population’s health. Some of them have a direct influence on the spread of influenza. Firstly, socio-economic status directly affects living conditions and vulnerability to influenza. Low income, poor education, and inaccessible health care can lead to limited access to vaccination and low awareness of hygiene measures, contributing to the spread of influenza (Javanian et al., 2021). Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to clean water and hygiene products can increase the risk of influenza infection and its spread in the community. Influenza is affected by migration, which is directly involved in the spread of infection and the mutation of the virus genes.
Epidemiological Triangle
In the context of the epidemiological triangle, host, pathogen, and environmental factors must be considered. Host factors include age and immune status. Anyone can get influenza, but some populations are more susceptible to severe complications and deaths from the flu (World Health Organization, 2022). It includes the elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and those with weakened immune systems. That stated the affections of the pathogen are the rapid mutation of influenza and its infectivity. High variability of the influenza virus causes the emergence of new strains and subtypes, while the ability to antigenic changes aggravates the situation (Javanian et al., 2021). Environmental factors include airborne transmission and seasonality. The interaction of these three factors in the epidemiological triangle determines the emergence and spread of influenza in a population, and special notifications are required.
Above all, it is critical to provide the public with accessible and accurate information about the disease, its modes of transmission, symptoms, prevention, and available treatment measures. The community and schools should be aware of effective prevention methods, such as regular hand washing, use of antiseptic, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing (World Health Organization, 2022). Moreover, communities should be made aware of the importance of vaccination and its role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
The Importance of Demographic Data
Recently, dramatic shifts in population structure and dynamics have become apparent. It should be considered that in parallel with demographic shifts, there have been shifts in the social and professional structure of the population. It then becomes clear that health care today can only achieve effective results by considering the sociodemographic shifts that have occurred and are happening in the population. Demographic data make it possible to identify certain populations that may be more vulnerable to infectious diseases or have an increased risk of developing certain conditions (World Health Organization, 2022). It helps focus efforts on providing them with appropriate health care and preventive measures. Data allows for tracking infectious disease spread in different populations and regions. Moreover, demographic data form the basis for developing programs and strategies to improve public health and provide effective healthcare interventions.
The Role of Population Health Nurses
Public health nurses play an important role in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and monitoring and controlling infectious diseases. Nurses can serve as the primary contact for patients presenting with symptoms of illness (World Health Organization, 2022). They thoroughly interview patients, assess their condition, and perform necessary tests to detect infectious diseases. Furthermore, nurses collect and document data on cases, tests performed, treatment, and outcomes (Javanian et al., 2021). They compile reports that help assess the epidemic situation and develop effective measures to prevent the spread of disease. The nurse conducts analysis and surveillance to identify trends and patterns of disease spread and assess the effectiveness of interventions.
A Christian worldview can be integrated into the influenza treatment process through compassion, ethics, respect for each patient, and understanding the importance of caring for patients’ physical and spiritual well-being. It can manifest in providing emotional support, establishing trusting relationships, and respecting patients’ religious and cultural beliefs. Moreover, it is required to ensure that patients have access to needed care responsive to their faith and spiritual needs.
Healthcare Organization
One organization focusing on fighting influenza is the World Health Organization (WHO), which is important in addressing and reducing the impact of various infectious diseases. WHO develops and recommends strategies to prevent, control, and treat influenza. It conducts research, collects and analyzes data, provides technical support to countries, and coordinates global efforts to fight the disease (World Health Organization, 2022). WHO has an important role in disseminating information about influenza, organizing immunization programs, and coordinating the response to outbreaks.
Global Consequences
The global consequences of influenza are quite significant due to its high prevalence. They cause economic losses and harm public health, well-being, and the social and political spheres. Countries and cultures deal with the problem by primarily applying for vaccination programs (World Health Organization, 2022). Furthermore, they develop and implement government measures to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It includes restriction of movement, quarantine, and mass vaccination. Influenza is not endemic to a particular area since viruses can circulate in any part of the world, often changing over time. An example of a country dealing with influenza is Japan. Japan has a well-developed influenza surveillance system that provides early diagnosis and tracking of the spread of the virus (Javanian et al., 2021). In Japan, social measures, such as wearing masks and frequent hand washing, are widely used to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the disease.
Conclusion
Therefore, influenza is a severe viral infection affecting all ages and nationalities. It ranks first among infectious diseases globally, with annual epidemics during the cold season. Transmission occurs through airborne droplets, and symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, and body aches. Complications can be serious, especially for vulnerable groups. Social determinants, such as socioeconomic status and living conditions, influence its spread while health nurses play a vital role in prevention and monitoring. Influenza has significant global consequences, and countries implement measures to control its spread.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report: 2020-2021 Influenza Season Week 53. CDC. Web.
Javanian, M., Barary, M., Ghebrehewet, S., Koppolu, V., Vasigala, V., & Ebrahimpour, S. (2021). A brief review of influenza virus infection. Journal of Medical Virology, 93(8), 4638-4646. Web.
World Health Organization. (2022). Influenza. WHO. Web.