“MARCH” of the Legionella

By Thomas Michael Simmons
From PHN Issue 53, Summer 2023

Many baby boomers recall 1976, when people attending an American Legion convention fell gravely ill to a form of pneumonia later named “legionnaires disease.” Legionnaires disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, which is among the most common causes of pneumonia. Legionella can be attributed to biofilms found in plumbing and water storage systems, construction, and water temperature fluctuations. They thrive and grow quickly in 98.6-degree Fahrenheit environments. Legionella grows best in large, complex, and poorly maintained water distribution systems, such as air conditioning and cooling systems.

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Dehumanizing of Persons Involves Words

By Daniel Ramirez
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

Criminality begins with potential perpetrators dehumanizing potential victims in their own mind. Using words such as this person is a “monster” or an “animal” or even a “snake.” Not worth the ground he/she walks on. And so on… We put a negative spin on a person so we can have a reason to look down on them or treat them unfairly. Potential perpetrators use labels upon people whom they want to victimize and treat any way they want.

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The INHUMANITY

By Marino Leyba
From PHN Issue 52, Sring 2023

Justice!
Just us!
Even when we are innocent they are always quick to try and bust us.

Turn up or turn out, truth out, the life we live I am not proud to talk about. Imagine being locked up and there is no way of walking out
I am barely walking now…

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A Word About Syphilis

By Thomas Michael Simons, IPE
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

While its origin is not completely known, the earliest evidence of syphilis was found in the Pre-Columbian Indigenous population of South America. Syphilis is caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete bacterium, and it can cause serious health problems if not treated. It is transmitted by coming into contact with a syphilitic sore during anal, oral, or vaginal sex. These sores appear on or around the anus, penis, or vagina (they’re found in the rectum, on the lips, or in the mouth). It can be congenitally (present before birth) spread from a pregnant person to a fetus or baby.

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Prisoners Surviving Mental Illness

By Wayne Thomas
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

There is an increasing restriction of constitutional rights and other safeguards on people with mental illness in prison. The punishment of individuals with psychiatric problems in prisons might affect the perception of people impacted by mass incarceration.

We are troubled by the punishing of people who suffer from mental and emotional disorders, who are often forced to take antipsychotic drugs during the trial or pretrial setting. There are a large number of instances in prisons and courthouses when a person with mental illness is forced to take medications against their will. The person is incapacitated by being put in a medication-induced stupor and then removed to a courtroom where they are sentenced to a term of incarceration. This is a process that maintains physical control over the mentally ill persons, forced by law to subject themselves to take antipsychotic medications when released. Often they are threatened with the possibility of return to confinement—to ensure medication adherence for formerly incarcerated people who are categorized as mentally ill.

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Ask PHN: Prostate Problems

By Seth Lamming
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

Dear Prison Health News,
Would you please send any and all information on an enlarged prostate? What is the end result if I have to have it removed?

– Sincerely, Mr. Tracy

Dear Mr. Tracy,
Prostate health is an important topic for anyone who has a penis. The prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut that sits below the bladder and in front the rectum. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that pee and semen come out of. When the prostate is big, it squeezes the urethra and makes it harder to pee. Its main purpose is to make some of the fluid that goes into semen. In this article, we will discuss benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer.

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Medications for OPIOID USE DISORDER

By Hannah Calvelli and Dan Lockwood
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is a term used by addiction and medical professionals when referring to the three medications (buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone) that are approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder. You may have heard of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), which is a similar term that refers to the use of FDA approved medications for both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. The difference between MOUD and MAT is that MAT is part of a larger treatment and recovery plan that includes counseling and behavioral therapy, whereas MOUD is treatment with medications only.

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What to Know About COVID-19 Tests

By M. Ali
From PHN Issue 52, Spring 2023

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. It spreads when a person with the virus (symptomatic or asymptomatic) releases droplets and particles from their mouth or nose. This can occur when they breathe, cough, or sneeze in close contact with another person. It can also occur in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings, such as correctional and detention facilities. The best way to prevent COVID19 infection and reinfection is to practice basic hygiene like washing your hands with soap and water, wear a well-fitting mask, stay up to date with vaccines, and avoid contact with individuals who may have the virus. While the use of masks to prevent the spread of this virus has been politicized and debated, randomized controlled trials have found that community-level mask wearing does reduce COVID-19 infections and may be an especially effective resource in crowded facilities.

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Ask PHN: Hernias

By Olivia Duffield
From PHN Issue 51, Winter 2023

Dear Prison Health News,
Intestinal hernias is a topic you could write an article on. Some points you could cover:
· What causes a hernia?
· How common are they?
· Other than discomfort, are they a problem if there are no complications?
· How often do complications occur?
· Is it possible (or safe) to live indefinitely with a hernia?

– Jon Tillman

Dear Mr. Tillman,
Thank you for this excellent suggestion. Hernias occur because of a tear or a weak spot in the tissue surrounding an organ. The muscle and tendons of the abdominal wall from the ribs to the top of the legs form a corset that holds the intestines in place. Some places in this corset tend to be weaker than others, and those places are typical sites of hernias. Inguinal (groin) hernias are the most common type. Researchers estimate that about 27% of men and 3% of women will develop an inguinal hernia at some point in their lives (NIDDK).

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The ABCs of HEPATITIS

By Hannah Calvelli and Lucy Gleysteen
From PHN Issue 51, Winter 2023

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. There are several types of viruses that cause hepatitis, but this article will focus on types A, B, and C. The liver is a large organ in the body, located under the right rib cage. It has many important roles, including cleaning toxins out of the body; breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to help digest food; regulating the amount of blood in the body; and helping blood in the body to clot. Hepatitis is caused by infections from different viruses (called hepatitis A, B, and C) that damage the liver.

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