Lyme disease risk factors
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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, in endemic regions, are at a higher risk of contracting tick-borne diseases. [1]
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. [1]
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 infection.
- 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.[2]
Endemic Regions
- Any individual travelling or living within the Northeastern United States, as well as the upper Midwest is at a heightened risk of exposure to Lyme disease.
- 96% of confirmed cases have been reported in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. [3]
Seasonal Variation
- The majority of Lyme disease cases are reported during the summer months of June (nearly 50,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2010) and July (just above 50,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2010).
- Case incidence heightens in May (estimated 15,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2010) and tapers off in August (just above 20,000 cases reported between the years 2001-2010). [3]
Rarer forms of Transmission
- Although rare, cases of blood transfusion and organ transplantation have been recorded as methods of transmission. [4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 General Information (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html Accessed on December 30, 2015
- ↑ "Lyme disease: All - MayoClinic.com". Retrieved 2013-03-14.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lyme Disease Graphs. http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/graphs.html Accessed February 9, 2016.
- ↑ Lyme disease transmission. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html Accessed February 9, 2016.