Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CS261913-A
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi
and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected
blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache,
fatigue, and a
characteristic
skin rash called
erythema
Lyme disease is an infection caused by
migrans. If
the corkscrew-shaped bacterium Borrelia
left untreated,
burgdorferi, a member of the family of
infection can
spirochetes.
spread to joints,
the heart,
and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on
symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of
exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used
correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of
Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of
antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect
repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and
reducing tick habitat.
1 dot placed randomly within county of residence for each confirmed case
Through Lyme disease cases have been reported in nearly every state, cases are reported from
the infected persons county of residence, not the place where they were infected.
Perform daily tick checks. Always check for ticks after being
outdoors, even in your own yard. Because ticks must usually be
attached for at least a day before they can transmit the bacteria
that cause Lyme disease, early removal can reduce the risk of
infection. Inspect all body surfaces carefully, and remove attached
ticks with tweezers. Avoid crushing the ticks body. DO NOT
use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products.
Grasp the tick firmly and as close to the skin as possible. With a
steady motion, pull the ticks body away from the skin. Do not be
alarmed if the ticks mouthparts remain in the skin. Cleanse the
area with an antiseptic.
Tick removal
Post-exposure antibiotics
Recent studies have examined the value of giving antibiotics
to prevent Lyme disease after a known tick bite. While giving
antibiotics for tick bites is not routinely practiced, it may be
beneficial in some cases, depending on disease presence in
the local area and duration of tick attachment. Physicians
must determine whether the advantages of using antibiotics
outweigh the disadvantages in any particular instance.
The complete life cycle of Ixodes ticks requires 2 years. Tick eggs
are laid in the spring, and hatch as larvae in the summer. Larvae
feed on mice, birds, and other small animals in the summer and
early fall. The larvae may become infected with Lyme disease
Tick control
Landscaping to create tick-safe zones. Tick-Safe Landscaping
techniques should be considered for homes, parks, fields, and
recreational areas. Ixodes ticks need the higher humidity levels
of the woodland to survive; they die quickly in drier environments.
Removing leaf litter and clearing tall grass and brush around
houses and at the edges of lawns will reduce the numbers of ticks.
Placing wood chips or gravel between lawns or play areas and
wooded areas creates a dry barrier that is difficult for ticks to cross.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3
5
Tick zone
zone
Tick safe
zone
Gardens
Play sets
Tick zone
Avoid areas
with and
forest
and
where deer, rodents, and ticks
rodents,
ticks
arebrush
common.
Wood chip barrier Use a 3 ft. barrier of wood chips or rock to separate the tick zone
Wood chip
Use a 3 ft. barrier of wood chips or rock to separate
2
Wood pile
Keep wood piles on the wood chip barrier, away from the home.
barrier
the tick zone and rock walls from the lawn.
Tick migration zone Maintain a 9 ft. barrier of lawn between the wood chips and area
Wood
pile
Keep
wood
piles on such
the wood
chip barrier,
away
from play in
Tick 3
safe zone
Enjoy daily
living
activities
as gardening
and
outdoor
the
home. crops. If desired, an 8-ft. fence can keep deer
Gardens
Plant deer
resistant
Play sets
Keep playMaintain
sets in the
tick
safeofzone
in sunnythe
areas
where ticks h
Tick migration
a 9 ft.
barrier
lawn between
wood
Confirmed cases
Probable cases*
Cases
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
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Penalty for Private use $300
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