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A WORD ABOUT TICKS AND L YME DISEASE BY IHOR MAGUN, M.D. Lyme disease was first recognized in 1965, and the name actually comes from a region in Connecticut, where the first documented cases were found. We now know that the disease is much more widespread. In the United States, there are distinct regions where the disease has been diagnosed at present: the Northeast, the Midwest (especially in Wisconsin and Minnesota), and the West. However, the disease has been reported almost everywhere and can also be found in Europe and Asia. The disease can strike anyone: it is not age or gender specific. The highest incidence occurs during the summer months, but it can also occur in the fall. The increase in Lyme disease has been attributed to more individuals being active outdoors and rising tick and deer population; due to increased awareness of the disease, more case are diagnosed and reported. A deer tick called Ixodes carries an infective organism called Borella burgdorferi. This organism is passed via the actual "bite" on humans and causes Lyme disease. It is important to note that being bitten by a tick does not necessarily means infection, as not every tick carries the infected organism. The clinical syndromes occur in three clinical stages. Stage 1 occurs from three to thirty-two days after the tick bite. The infected person develops flu- like symptoms and a characteristic rash called erythema chronicum migrans. The rash is red and spreads out in a ring pattern. It can occur at the area of the bite or on other skin sites - secondaiy round, annular lesions. The rash can also be missed. Stage 2 occurs weeks to months after Stage 1 and can cause neurologic abnormalities and cardiac problems. There is frequently diffuse muscular weakness. Stage 3 occurs months to years after the initial infection. Arthritis of one or more joints occurs in 50% of individuals who do not receive any effective treatment. A blood test is available for evaluation and diagnosis. Tests have become more standardized and a true positive reading can be found after the first two to six weeks of illness. False-positive results occasionally occur. The treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics. The duration and mode of administration (oral vs. intravenous) depends on the stage and organ systems involved. Currently, routine empiric therapy after a tick bite is not recommended. It is advisable to wait and obtain a blood test before any medication is administered. As with all diseases, prevention is important. Appropriate protective clothing and use of repellents are standard recommendations for everyone involved in outdoor activity in areas where incidents of Lyme disease have been reported. A Lyme vaccine which has been approved by the United States FDA is currently available. Several injections are required, but preliminary data on the vaccine are very encouraging. With proper protection, we can all be ready to tackle what Mother Nature has to share. Enjoy the outdoors! Our Life welcomes original English language manuscripts and occasionally reprints articles or stories published in other sources. We are currently planning our fall and winter issues and are interested in "back to school" materials, especially as they relate to Ukrainian school or issues relating to Ukrainian-American school pupils and students. Book reviews on Ukrainian children's literature, anecdotes, and articles dealing with educational or creative activities for children, especially those that reflect Ukrainian- American heritage, are welcome. Manuscript should be typed, double-spaced, and forwarded to the English language editor at 108 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Authors are requested to provide address and telephone number. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs cannot be returned. 16 ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 1998 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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