Lyme disease risk factors

Lyme disease Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Epidemiology and Demographics
Causes
Differentiating Lyme disease from other Diseases
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
ECG
X-ray
CT scan
MRI
Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Sudies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Lyme disease risk factors On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Lyme disease risk factors All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Lyme disease risk factors
CDC on Lyme disease risk factors
Lyme disease risk factors in the news
Blogs on Lyme disease risk factors
Directions to Hospitals Treating Lyme disease
Risk calculators and risk factors for Lyme disease risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ilan Dock, B.S.

Overview

As a tick-borne disease, an individual is at a heightened risk of contracting Lyme disease when traveling or residing within endemic regions. Risk within endemic regions will heighten during the spring and summer months, with peaks in June and July. Other factors that may increase the risk of contracting Lyme disease include owning a domesticated animal such as a dog or cat; As both of these pets may be potential hosts for a blacklegged tick. In summary, individuals who spend much of their time outdoors and/or have pets that go outdoors and lives in endemic regions, are at a higher risk of contracting tick-borne diseases.

Risk factors

• All together, individuals who spend time outdoors and/or have pets that go outdoors in endemic regions are at risk for tick-borne disease.

Exposure to ticks

• Individuals with frequent exposure to dogs and who reside near wooded areas or areas with high grass may also be at increased risk of tick-borne infection.
• Individuals with outdoor occupations and working outside witt bare or exposed skin.
• Failing to remove a tick as soon as you see it on your skin (the longer a tick is attached to your skin the greater your risk of developing Lyme disease).

Endemic Regions

• About 95% of all reported cases are confined to 14 states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin.
• Any individual travelling or living within these five geographic areas including New England, Mid-Atlantic, East-North Central, South Atlantic, and West North-Central is at a heightened risk of exposure to Lyme disease.

Seasonal Variation

• The majority of Lyme disease cases are reported during the summer months May to August.
• Case incidence increases in May (estimated 20,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2015), heightens in June and July (estimated 70,000 - 80,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2015) and tapers off in August (just above 30,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2015).

Confirmed Lyme disease cases by month of disease onset–United States, 2001-2015

Rarer forms of Transmission

• Cases of blood transfusion and organ transplantation have been recorded as methods of transmission but it is very rare.

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources