Lyme Disease: An Overview

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean G. Dib ◽  
Horatio B. Fung ◽  
Raquel M. Tiu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Skin Lesion ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
Disease Treatment ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. It occurs most commonly in areas that foster and harbor the deer tick. The number of reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States has increased steadily since 1982. The tick transmits an infection of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi that typically manifests as a localized skin lesion and erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection may lead to localized arthritis, heartblock, and/or disease of the nervous system. The diagnosis of Lyme disease is made primarily from clinical signs and symptoms that are suggestive of the disease. Treatment includes 10 to 27 days of antibiotics depending on stage of the disease. Vaccines for the prevention of Lyme disease are now licensed and the trend of increasing incidence of Lyme disease will likely be reversed.

scholarly journals COVID-19–Related Internet Search Patterns Among People in the United States: Exploratory Analysis

10.2196/22407 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. e22407
Author(s):  
Tony S Shen ◽  
Aaron Z Chen ◽  
Patawut Bovonratwet ◽  
Carol L Shen ◽  
Edwin P Su
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms

Background The internet is a well-known source of information that patients use to better inform their opinions and to guide their conversations with physicians during clinic visits. The novelty of the recent COVID-19 outbreak has led patients to turn more frequently to the internet to gather more information and to alleviate their concerns about the virus. Objective The aims of the study were to (1) determine the most commonly searched phrases related to COVID-19 in the United States and (2) identify the sources of information for these web searches. Methods Search terms related to COVID-19 were entered into Google. Questions and websites from Google web search were extracted to a database using customized software. Each question was categorized into one of 6 topics: clinical signs and symptoms, treatment, transmission, cleaning methods, activity modification, and policy. Additionally, the websites were categorized according to source: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-CDC government, academic, news, and other media. Results In total, 200 questions and websites were extracted. The most common question topic was transmission (n=63, 31.5%), followed by clinical signs and symptoms (n=54, 27.0%) and activity modification (n=31, 15.5%). Notably, the clinical signs and symptoms category captured questions about myths associated with the disease, such as whether consuming alcohol stops the coronavirus. The most common websites provided were maintained by the CDC, the WHO, and academic medical organizations. Collectively, these three sources accounted for 84.0% (n=168) of the websites in our sample. Conclusions In the United States, the most commonly searched topics related to COVID-19 were transmission, clinical signs and symptoms, and activity modification. Reassuringly, a sizable majority of internet sources provided were from major health organizations or from academic medical institutions.

scholarly journals COVID-19–Related Internet Search Patterns Among People in the United States: Exploratory Analysis (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony S Shen ◽  
Aaron Z Chen ◽  
Patawut Bovonratwet ◽  
Carol L Shen ◽  
Edwin P Su
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms

BACKGROUND The internet is a well-known source of information that patients use to better inform their opinions and to guide their conversations with physicians during clinic visits. The novelty of the recent COVID-19 outbreak has led patients to turn more frequently to the internet to gather more information and to alleviate their concerns about the virus. OBJECTIVE The aims of the study were to (1) determine the most commonly searched phrases related to COVID-19 in the United States and (2) identify the sources of information for these web searches. METHODS Search terms related to COVID-19 were entered into Google. Questions and websites from Google web search were extracted to a database using customized software. Each question was categorized into one of 6 topics: clinical signs and symptoms, treatment, transmission, cleaning methods, activity modification, and policy. Additionally, the websites were categorized according to source: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-CDC government, academic, news, and other media. RESULTS In total, 200 questions and websites were extracted. The most common question topic was transmission (n=63, 31.5%), followed by clinical signs and symptoms (n=54, 27.0%) and activity modification (n=31, 15.5%). Notably, the clinical signs and symptoms category captured questions about myths associated with the disease, such as whether consuming alcohol stops the coronavirus. The most common websites provided were maintained by the CDC, the WHO, and academic medical organizations. Collectively, these three sources accounted for 84.0% (n=168) of the websites in our sample. CONCLUSIONS In the United States, the most commonly searched topics related to COVID-19 were transmission, clinical signs and symptoms, and activity modification. Reassuringly, a sizable majority of internet sources provided were from major health organizations or from academic medical institutions.

Advances in Medical Genetics: Huntington Disease

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-14
Author(s):  
Frederick Hecht
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Genetics ◽  
Huntington Disease ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Genetics ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Huntington Chorea

Medical genetics is currently enjoying a time of exploration and discovery. Huntington disease has long been of interest in adult medicine. The onset of clinical signs and symptoms is usually delayed until midadulthood. It may seem strange in this context to focus on Huntington disease, but advances in molecular genetics have brought Huntington disease into the purview of pediatrics. These advances in molecular genetics make it possible to detect Huntington disease in a preclinical stage at or even before birth. The molecular approach does not replace prior approaches to Huntington disease but is synergistic and provides a model of the new genetics. Huntington disease is synonymous with Huntington chorea. It is named after George Huntington who, like his father and grandfather before him, studied the disease in families on Long Island, NY. Huntington disease is a more common hereditary disorder than phenylketonuria, which occurs in one of about 10,000 newborns in the United States. By contrast, about one in 2,000 persons is at risk for Huntington disease. Although most cases start clinically in midadulthood, usually between 35 and 42 years of age, there is great variability in age of onset. About 3% of cases are diagnosed as juvenile Huntington disease before the age of 15 years. Late onset is well known after 50 years of age.

Typical and atypical clinical signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and delayed seeking of professional care among blacks

1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
HO Lee
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Black Patients ◽  
Definitive Therapy ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that the effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction is inversely related to the time between the onset of signs and symptoms and definitive therapy, long delays in seeking treatment have been reported consistently. A variety of reasons for the delays have been suggested. Because such delays are associated with longer hospital stays and higher mortality and morbidity, interventions that reduce delays are especially important. PURPOSE: To examine research on patients with myocardial infarction who delay seeking professional treatment and the factors related to the delay, and to review studies indicating that black patients have premonitory clinical signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and changes in the structure and function of the cardiovascular system that are different from those in whites. METHODS: Studies were reviewed by using MEDLINE and by doing a manual search of relevant research journals in cardiovascular, nursing, and behavioral medicine published since 1970. Data published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research were also reviewed. RESULTS: Although the lengths of the delays have varied considerably, blacks have generally experienced longer delays than whites between acute onset of signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and arrival at the emergency department. Studies show that black patients have a lower incidence of classic chest pain or discomfort but an increased incidence of dyspnea, whereas white patients are much more likely to complain of chest pain. CONCLUSION: Culturally sensitive public education about typical and atypical premonitory clinical signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction and the significance of early treatment of myocardial infarction in blacks is needed.

Lyme borreliosis: diagnosis and management

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. m1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Jan Kullberg ◽  
Hedwig D Vrijmoeth ◽  
Freek van de Schoor ◽  
Joppe W Hovius
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Borreliosis ◽  
Erythema Migrans ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Lyme borreliosis is the most common vectorborne disease in the northern hemisphere. It usually begins with erythema migrans; early disseminated infection particularly causes multiple erythema migrans or neurologic disease, and late manifestations predominantly include arthritis in North America, and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) in Europe. Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is based on characteristic clinical signs and symptoms, complemented by serological confirmation of infection once an antibody response has been mounted. Manifestations usually respond to appropriate antibiotic regimens, but the disease can be followed by sequelae, such as immune arthritis or residual damage to affected tissues. A subset of individuals reports persistent symptoms, including fatigue, pain, arthralgia, and neurocognitive symptoms, which in some people are severe enough to fulfil the criteria for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. The reported prevalence of such persistent symptoms following antimicrobial treatment varies considerably, and its pathophysiology is unclear. Persistent active infection in humans has not been identified as a cause of this syndrome, and randomized treatment trials have invariably failed to show any benefit of prolonged antibiotic treatment. For prevention of Lyme borreliosis, post-exposure prophylaxis may be indicated in specific cases, and novel vaccine strategies are under development.

scholarly journals Detection of Borreliacidal Antibodies in Dogs after Challenge with Borrelia burgdorferi-Infected Ixodes scapularis Ticks

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 3670-3674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Callister ◽  
Dean A. Jobe ◽  
Ronald F. Schell ◽  
Steven D. Lovrich ◽  
Keysha L. Onheiber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Antibody Production ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Infection Detection ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Antibody Levels

Detection of borreliacidal antibodies is an accurate serodiagnostic test for confirmation of Lyme disease in humans. In this study, 13 pathogen-free beagles, 12 to 26 weeks old, were infected withBorrelia burgdorferi by tick challenge. Dogs were monitored for clinical signs and symptoms of Lyme disease along with borreliacidal antibody production against B. burgdorferisensu stricto isolates 297 and 50772. Ten (77%) dogs developed lameness in one or more legs within 210 days after attachment ofIxodes scapularis ticks. Eight (80%) of the lame animals had concurrent fever of ≥38°C. Spirochetes were also recovered from the skin and joints of 12 (92%) dogs, but rarely from other organs. Borreliacidal antibodies against B. burgdorferi isolate 297 were detected in only four (31%) dogs, and the levels of killing antibodies remained low for the duration of the infection. In contrast, borreliacidal antibodies against B. burgdorferi isolate 50772 were detected in 13 (100%) dogs within 21 days of infection. Furthermore, the borreliacidal antibody levels correlated with the severity of B. burgdorferi infection. Detection of borreliacidal antibodies, especially against B. burgdorferiisolate 50772, is also a reliable serodiagnostic test for detection of Lyme disease in dogs.

Mosquito and Tick-borne Illnesses in the United States. Guidelines for the Recognition and Empiric Treatment of Zoonotic Diseases in the Wilderness.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-257
Author(s):  
Suresh Antony
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ◽  
Number Of Patients

Background:In the United States, tick-borne illnesses account for a significant number of patients that have been seen and treated by health care facilities. This in turn, has resulted in a significant morbidity and mortality and economic costs to the country.Methods:The distribution of these illnesses is geographically variable and is related to the climate as well. Many of these illnesses can be diagnosed and treated successfully, if recognized and started on appropriate antimicrobial therapy early in the disease process. Patient with illnesses such as Lyme disease, Wet Nile illness can result in chronic debilitating diseases if not recognized early and treated.Conclusion:This paper covers illnesses such as Lyme disease, West Nile illness, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Ehrlichia, Tularemia, typhus, mosquito borne illnesses such as enteroviruses, arboviruses as well as arthropod and rodent borne virus infections as well. It covers the epidemiology, clinical features and diagnostic tools needed to make the diagnosis and treat these patients as well.

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