Community Trends

Community Trends

Taryn Ekins

            Community Health is extremely important. Each community should have several representatives that know trends that are happening in that area. I am from Springfield, Missouri, so I chose to contact a representative from my city. I was able to talk to Kendra Findley. She is the Administrator of Community Health and Epidemiology for the Springfield Greene County Health Department. She gave me 5 diseases that are trending in my community at this time. These trending diseases include Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Chlamydia, Pertussis, and Enteric Diseases.

            The most prevalent disease in my community is Hepatitis C. Ms. Findley informed me that it is most prevalent because most people who have it are unaware that they are infected. Hepatitis C is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it is a blood born pathogen. Citizens usually contract the disease by at risk behaviors such as getting tattoos with unsafe instruments, drug use, and other such things.

            The next most prevalent disease is Hepatitis B. It too is prevalent because those who have it are unaware that they are infected. It is a sexually transmitted disease so when those who have the disease are unaware that they have it they continue to have sex and transfer the disease to their sexual partner. This is also a blood born disease. Both Hepatitis C and B have been historically high on the list of trends in this community.

            Third on the list is Chlamydia. Chlamydia is also a sexually transmitted disease. Those who have it do not realize they have it as well. The amount of people who have contracted this disease has been increasing over the past five years. Representatives in this community are working on understanding why that is and how they are able to fix it.

            Another trend in this community is Pertussis. This is also known as whooping cough. This trend is based on vaccination rates. Ms. Findley explained that the reason the number of people with this disease fluctuates is because from year to year more or less individuals decide that they do not believe in vaccinations and therefore contract the disease. The disease usually spreads by coughing in close proximity to another person.

            The final disease discussed is enteric disease. This disease is diarrhea related. It is associated with food borne illnesses. Different pathogens enter food, which then enter the body and cause this disease. Epidemiologists are working to find a way to help the public not contract this disease, as it is a problem.

            It was extremely interesting learning about the different trends that are happening in my community. I would love to be able to help those in my community not contract these disease. Perhaps some day when I am a public health professional I can return to Springfield and research with the representatives they have there now.