I) Capstone Report: Epidemiology of an Esoteric disease from the Environment or Bioterrorism event.
Pretend you are planning a major trip with your family to visit one of the National Parks in the United States or one of its territories. Identify a rather esoteric public health disease that people may not be familiar with such as Bubonic Plague from prairie dogs, Hantavirus from a mouse in the Four Corners region, the bite of a Hobo spider at Yellowstone, water borne Shigellosis from beavers in the Pacific Northwest, a sting from "fire coral" while swimming off the island of Culebra (Puerto Rico) or a mosquito borne encephalitis such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis in New Jersey at Cattus Island Park in October.
Research the available scientific literature about the public health disease you have selected.
Write a 1,400 to 1,700-word paper which includes the natural history, epidemiology, treatment and public health considerations (i.e. prevention) of the disease.
As an alternative, you may use a bioterrorism organism or chemical agent of terrorism as the subject of your report.
The paper should be written in APA format and include at least six scholarly references. Your topic must be pre-approved by your instructor. Feel free to e-mail me early on to get approval for your topic.
Here is a suggested list of diseases:
Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, relapsing fever, Colorado tick fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, tularemia, Q fever, western equine encephalitis (WEE), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), California encephalitis (CE), La Crosse encephalitis, Powassan encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), bubonic plague plague, ancylostomiasis (hookworm infections), giardiasis, Cryptosporidium infection, Entamoeba histolytica infection, ascariasis, trichuriasis, shigellosis, salmonellosis, Pontiac fever, Norwalk-like virus gastroenteritis, E. coli O157:H7 gastroenteritis, Naegleria and amebic meningoencephalitis, Chronic Wasting Disease, etc.
Note: ProMED Mail is a great resource: To get the latest epidemiological news about the disease you are researching go to ProMED Mail. http://www.promedmail.org/
II) Write a response to the following discussion question in the discussion forum:
After reading about pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in Ch. 20, what are your thoughts about PGD?
Note. Initial answers to the discussion question must be substantive and in the range of 400-500 words. Include at least two scholarly references in your response. All references used should be properly cited following APA formatting guidelines.
III) Write a response to the following discussion question in the discussion forum:
Describe one of the methods of prenatal testing, such as ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and amniocentesis. Why might a health care provider request each of these tests?
Note. Initial answers to the discussion question must be substantive and in the range of 400-500 words. Include at least two scholarly references in your response. All references used should be properly cited following APA formatting guidelines.
IV) Case study
A 22-year old woman presents at the walk-in health clinic with slight fever (38.5° C), a complaint of frequent urination, burning on urination, vaginal discharge and a small lesion on the labia.
The woman reported that she was moderately sexually active and had three sexual partners in the past six months. Her last sexual contacts were about 7 days earlier. She had developed mild symptoms about 5 days earlier, beginning with a discharge from the vagina. She began having pain on urination about 3 days earlier.
Urine analysis revealed a pH of 8.2, some white cells and a few red blood cells. There was protein in the urine. A smear of the vaginal secretion showed a number of intracellular kidney bean shaped Gram-negative cocci in pairs.
Directions: Answer the following questions in your own words.
1. What is your diagnosis here?
2. What clinical features are critical to your diagnosis?
3. What further actions must be taken?