AN EPIDEMIC OF THYROTOXICOSIS
Question 1: Place yourself in the role of the EIS Officer. Can you say that an epidemic exists? Why or Why not?
Considering the information that was provided by the EIS office, it is evident that thyrotoxicosis exits. In case this case, if I was the EIS personnel, one of the key factors that I could have taken into consideration is scrutinizing the data provided so as to determine whether this was not truly an epidemic or not. Despite that, it will be vital to take into account the main concern of the EIS officer or endocrinologist. For such a town with a total population of 801 people, it is logical to say that this is an alarming problem that should be studied chronologically. The reason for that is because out 801 people, 8 patients had already been diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis. From what we had previously learned, once a disease has been considered to be an epidemic, it means that it is spreading rapidly and quickly within a short time.
Question 2: a) What additional information might you try to collect on the phone call?
As one of the EIS officers, one of my primary objectives will entail gathering sufficient information regarding the spread of the epidemic. The reason for that is because I will be able to assist the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) to make adequate adjustments regarding the mechanisms to be used in handling such an outbreak. As a result of that, I will dedicate my time to ask the endocrinologist whether the patients acknowledge each other. Next, I will as inquire from the endocrinologist about the mechanism that patients use to connect patients with each other. Information regarding the activities that the patients do for survival is also paramount to be included in this research.
Information that is also vital to collected will entail understanding some of the factors that has the propensity of increasing the spread of such an epidemic. Such factors will be based on individual lifestyle, for instance, nutrition, physical exercises, and so on. The reason for that is that information regarding how patients change their diet is important because it plays a crucial role in boosting individual immunity (Luster et al., 2019). Last but not least, it will be to analyze some of the clinical strategies that could have been implemented in preventing the spread of this disorder.
Question 3: Which of the following three tasks are appropriate next steps to take? Why?
- Contact the state epidemiologist in South Dakota
Contacting the state epidemiologist will be important because it will provide an opportunity to learn about the main signs and symptoms the epidemiologist gathered from the patient examined. It will also be easier to learn on how the epidemiologist analyzed the information they could have gathered from patients. Interacting with the epidemiologist will assist in understanding the preventive strategies he or she could have recommended in combating the spread of this disorder.
- Book an airline flight to Sioux Falls.
Booking a flight to Sioux Falls will be important because it will offer an opportunity for interacting with the endocrinologist of the University of South Dakota. Taking into consideration the article the endocrinologist had read, it will be easier to understand his views regarding such an epidemic. Since some of the views regarding this epidemic is that is caused by a virus, it could be vital to understand some of the symptoms he or she considered to be common with each patient. Such an understanding will have to be based on the fact that the endocrinologist had noticed that some patients exhibited relatively low radioiodine intake. As a result of consulting the endocrinologist, there will be an opportunity of understanding the feedbacks he or she could have received from the EIS officer concerning their perspectives about the existence of such an epidemic.
- Contact physicians in communities affected by the outbreak to identify more cases.
By contacting physicians in communities that are affected by this outbreak will provide an opportunity for gathering information from them regarding the lifestyle of the people within that region. The knowledge to be provided by the local communities is relevant because they are always in close contact with their patients. Scrutinizing the clinical information they could have collected regarding such patients will also be easier in understanding the primary causes of this disorder. By interacting with the local physicians, it will be easier to have the contact information of the patients so that one can reach and interact with them. In so doing, it will be easier to implement effective strategies that can be used to prevent further spread.
Question 4: State and define the two major types of thyrotoxicosis.
Thyrotoxicosis is one of the medical syndromes that develop as a result of the exposition of individual tissues to excessive circulating thyroid hormones. Usually, this condition develops as a result of the overproduction of the thyroid hormones by the thyroid follicular epithelial cells (Buck, 2017). The two types of thyrotoxicosis are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid disease is a health condition in which individual thyroid glands fail to produce sufficient thyroid hormones. The primary objective of thyroid hormones entails regulating body metabolism. Therefore, individuals with underactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism have various symptoms that clinically show that he or she has low metabolism (White & Harvard Medical School, 2010).
Hyperthyroidism is a clinical condition in which the thyroid glands produce excessive thyroid hormones; triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hence making them be overactive. It mainly develops in three ways; production of excess T4 hormone by the thyroid nodule, thyroiditis (a condition which is associated with the increase in the size of the thyroid glands), or as a result of Grave’s disease (a condition which makes an individual’s thyroid glands to produce excess thyroid hormones) (Luster et al., 2019).
Question 5:
- Thyrotoxicosis typically is an antecedent for which major form of arthritis? What is the relative frequency for this form of arthritis?
Thyrotoxicosis has been realized to be an antecedent for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that develops when the protective cartilage that protects individual bone joints wears or tears with time. Despite that it damages bones; it commonly affects any joint that is found on the knees, hips, hands, and spine. According to the information collected and published by CDC, out of 1000 people, 1 to 2 people are likely to develop this disorder (Wardle et al., 2010). Females have a relatively high frequency of developing osteoarthritis (OA) as compared to males.
- For each of the three prevention stages, identify strategies for prevention of osteoarthritis.
As a means of preventing the development of osteoarthritis, it is important to select the strategies that suit the needs of each patient. That will take into account selecting appropriate clinical interventions that can attenuate or correct risk factors of osteoarthritis. Ideally, such interventions should be considered whether they are acceptable by each patient so as to maximize persistence with and adherence to the regimes (Ferri & Ferri, 2019). One of the primary prevention strategies that can be recommended is educating patients and the general public about osteoarthritis. Education is vital because it has been clinically proven to enhance self-management. With it, it becomes easier for individuals to understand how to use and prevent the overuse of joints in the appropriate way.
Nevertheless, active prevention strategies should target individual lifestyle risk factors that have the propensity of increasing the development of osteoarthritis or joint damage. Some of the lifestyle risk factors include poor nutrition that causes malnutrition or obesity, lack of physical exercise, excessive joint strain and stress, and dehydration. Once these factors have been taken into consideration, educating individuals on how to change their lifestyle will be fundamental in preventing the development of osteoarthritis. Encouraging sufficient consumption of foods that are reach in vitamin D, calcium, and other related nutrients are vital in fostering the development of healthy bones. Avoiding alcohol intake and exposure to sunlight for at least 30 minutes each day is also important because it is the source of vitamin D (Reginster, 2012). The use of drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or aspirin can be recommended as the strategy for preventing osteoarthritis. Intake of chemo-preventive supplements including a combination of vitamin D and calcium can also be administered for patients who are clinically ill.
References
Buck, C. J. (2017). 2018 ICD-10-CM for hospitals. Saunders Press
Ferri, F. F., & Ferri, F. F. (2019). Ferri's clinical advisor 2019: 5 books in 1. Philadelphia, PA : Elsevie Press
In Luster, M., In Duntas, L. H., & In Wartofsky, L. (2019). The thyroid and its diseases: A comprehensive guide for the clinician. Cham, Swizterland : Springer Press
Reginster, J.-Y. (2012). Osteoarthritis: Clinical and experimental aspects. Berlin: Springer.
Wardle, J., Sarris, J., & In Sarris, J. (2010). Clinical Naturopathy: An evidence-based guide to practice. Churchill Livingstone Australia Press
White, S. S., & Harvard Medical School. (2010). Thyroid disease: Understanding hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Boston, MA: Harvard Health Publications.
