Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis

Background/history of the disease or condition (≈1 page in length) Here you will describe the major features of the disease/condition and its history (e.g., when it was first identified) “Person, place, time” characteristics in a modern context (≈1 page in length) Discuss who can get the disease/condition and if certain groups are more at risk for the disease/condition than other groups Discuss the geographic spread of the disease/condition (e.g., is it more likely to occur in one place versus another place) Discuss the timing of the disease/condition (e.g., is it more likely to occur in early childhood or in later adulthood, is it season dependent) Discuss what surveillance methods are used to monitor the disease/condition (≈1 page in length) Are the surveillance methods locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally supported? If there are multiple surveillance methods, discuss the pros and cons of each method (if there are more than two methods, select two) If there is no surveillance method for your selected disease/condition, discuss why Provide your opinion on whether the surveillance methods are adequate and what should be done to improve them Identify and describe two policies or policy proposals that would help treat or mitigate your disease/condition (≈1 page) What policies already exist to address the needs of the population affected by your selected disease/condition? Discuss how effective you think these policies have been If no policies exist, why not? Describe two policies that you think could be effective in addressing challenges related to your selected disease/condition

Sample Solution

Disease/Condition:Malaria

Major Features

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. It is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is characterized by fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. In severe cases, malaria can lead to coma and death.

History

Malaria has been a major public health problem for centuries. The earliest known references to malaria date back to ancient Egypt and China. In the 19th century, malaria was a major cause of death in Europe and the United States. However, thanks to advances in mosquito control and drug therapy, malaria has been largely eradicated from these regions.

Full Answer Section

Person, Place, Time

Who can get malaria?

Anyone can get malaria, but people living in tropical and subtropical regions are at the highest risk. This is because Anopheles mosquitoes are most common in these regions. In 2020, there were an estimated 241 million cases of malaria worldwide, and over 627,000 deaths.

Certain groups are more at risk for malaria than others, including:

Pregnant women
Children under the age of 5
People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or sickle cell anemia
People who travel to or live in areas where malaria is common

Geographic spread

Malaria is present in over 100 countries around the world. It is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, but it is also found in Southeast Asia, South America, and Central and South America.

Timing

Malaria can occur at any time of year, but it is most common during the rainy season, when mosquito populations are highest.

Surveillance Methods

Malaria surveillance is essential for tracking the spread of the disease and evaluating the effectiveness of control programs. A variety of surveillance methods are used to monitor malaria, including:

Passive surveillance: This involves collecting data from health facilities on the number of malaria cases diagnosed and treated.
Active surveillance: This involves conducting surveys and other community-based activities to identify malaria cases.
Sentinel surveillance: This involves monitoring a select group of health facilities or communities for malaria cases.

Support for surveillance methods

Malaria surveillance is supported by a variety of organizations at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a leading role in coordinating malaria surveillance efforts globally.

Pros and cons of surveillance methods

Passive surveillance:

Pros: Passive surveillance is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement.
Cons: Passive surveillance may underestimate the true number of malaria cases, as not all cases are diagnosed and treated at health facilities.

Active surveillance:

Pros: Active surveillance can identify malaria cases that would otherwise be missed by passive surveillance.
Cons: Active surveillance can be more expensive and time-consuming to implement than passive surveillance.

Sentinel surveillance:

Pros: Sentinel surveillance can provide early warning signs of malaria outbreaks.
Cons: Sentinel surveillance may not be representative of the general population, and it may not be feasible to implement in all areas.

Adequacy of surveillance methods

Malaria surveillance systems in many countries are inadequate. This is due to a number of factors, including lack of funding, trained personnel, and infrastructure.

Improvements to surveillance methods

Improvements to malaria surveillance systems could include:

Increased funding
Training more personnel in malaria surveillance
Strengthening infrastructure
Developing new surveillance methods, such as using satellite imagery to track mosquito populations

Policies and Policy Proposals

There are a number of policies and policy proposals that could help treat and mitigate malaria. Some of these include:

Increased access to malaria prevention and treatment services: This includes providing malaria medication to pregnant women and children under the age of 5, and distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
Improved vector control: This includes measures to reduce mosquito populations, such as draining stagnant water and spraying insecticides.
Development of new malaria vaccines and drugs: This is essential for reducing the burden of malaria and preventing the development of drug resistance.

Existing policies

There are a number of existing policies that address the needs of the population affected by malaria. These include the WHO Global Malaria Strategy and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Effectiveness of existing policies

Existing policies have been effective in reducing the burden of malaria in some countries. However, there is still a long way to go. In 2020, the WHO estimated that the world was off track to meet its global malaria targets.

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