IntroductionThe healthcare of individuals within a community has been seen throughout human existence. People from every culture have concerns with events surrounding birth, death and illness. Human nature leads to the path of trying to understand prevent and control disease. Human beings' ability to preserve health and treat illness is dependents on the level of science, the availability of technology, and the degree of social organization (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2004, p. 24).
When the community is small, some of the technology, and expertise that is readily available in a larger setting may not be accessible. The article this paper focuses on came from a small rural community in Central Wisconsin.
BlastomycosisBlastomycosis, a potentially dangerous disease also known as Gilchrist's disease, is relatively rare, but Wisconsin has a higher incidence than the rest of the country (Rare infection worth watching for, 2006). In an article from the November 28, 2007 edition of Foto News, the small, local, weekly paper of Merrill, located in Lincoln County Wisconsin titled "Blastomycosis - common in the fall," the people of this community were reminded of the dangers associated with Blastomycosis, which killed a 16 year old girl from that city last year.
Blastomycosis of the skin
North American blastomycosis
North American blastomycosisThe residents of the community were reminded of the importance of knowing the signs of the disease, and that Blastomycosis is more common in the spring and fall when the soil where the fungus is found is disturbed. People with Blastomycosis have symptoms that range from pneumonia, to multi-organ failure. The first symptoms may be dermatitis, on the exposed parts of the body, or a persistent dry cough, fever and muscle aches (Blastomycosis - common in the fall, 2007).
The CommunityLincoln County is located in northeast Wisconsin, with a population of 29,641 from the 2000 census. Merrill, the county seat, has a...