Homeless Population Case Study

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Recommended: Primary prevention of tuberculosis disease

Homeless Population
People without a regular dwelling can be susceptible to so many infectious disease. TB in the homeless population is a public health concern.
Report from CDC (2013) stated that the number of TB cases in the United States decreased slightly in 2011; however there is a disproportionate number of TB cases still occur among high-risk populations, including people experiencing homelessness (CDC, 2013). Furthermore, CDC (2013) said, “In the United States, 1% of the population experiences homelessness in a given year, but more than 5% of people with TB reported being homeless within the year prior to diagnosis” (CDC, 2013).

HIV/AIDS Population
When it comes to infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS population is at high risks due …show more content…

As stated by the CDC, “worldwide, it is estimated that TB infects 1 million children who are less than 15 years of age each year. In the United States, a total of 9,582 cases of TB were reported in 2013, of which 485 (5%) cases were among children less than 15 years of age” (CDC, 2013).

Things to note on tuberculosis

Environment plays a big role in human health. Having a healthy environment such as clean air can bring positive impact to people’s health.
According to the article Linking TB and the Environment: An Overlooked Mitigation Strategy (2008) in 2033 TB incidence rates in parts of China could be 14–52% lower if tobacco smoking and indoor air pollution from traditional cooking stoves are eliminated (Schmidt, 2008).

Although it has been noticed that there is a significant decrease in tuberculosis prevalence, the disease is still a major concern to public health in the United States. Poor life style can increase the risks of TB infection among poor community. Schmidt (2008) stated that TB has been linked anecdotally with environmental risk factors that go hand-in-hand with poverty: indoor air pollution, tobacco smoke, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and excessive alcohol use (Schmidt, …show more content…

For example, when people do not complete the full course of treatment, or health care providers who prescribe wrong treatment, the wrong dose, or wrong length of time for taking the drugs, the TB virus can create resistance to further treatment, which can also lead to tuberculosis severity.

Conclusion There is a tremendous positive change in TB eradication every year. However, it does not mean that TB has stopped to be a threat to public health in the United States and in the World.
According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2013. (WHO, 2014). CDC report that “In the United States, 536 people died from tuberculosis in 2011” (CDC, 2013).
Education can be a powerful weapon in fighting tuberculosis in the United States also around the world. Today, it is encouraging how so many people know how TB contracts human and what cause drug resistant effects among those who are under TB treatment.
I believe education is still needed consistently to eradicate this deadly

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