Lyme Disease Article Review Paper
Article Review: Lyme Disease
HCS 457
September, 2012
Professor Michelle Clemmons
Article Review
The World Health Organization defines “Health education as any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes” (WHO, 2012, p. 2). The best weapon in preventing a disease outbreak is community action and education. Articles are published to provide valuable information regarding past and present disease trends. The following paper summarizes three articles regarding the prevalence of Lyme disease, its effect on the people, and the community health response.
Lyme Disease & History
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection …show more content…
The Lyme arthritis outbreak in Old Lyme, Connecticut that put Lyme disease on the cover of Time Magazine occurred in 1975. The first cases of canine Lyme were recognized in the 1980s” (Piesman, 2012, 30).
Community Effects
“More cases of Lyme disease are reported than any other vector-borne disease in the United States. There were 29,959 confirmed cases and 8509 probable cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2009” (CDC, 2012, p. 1) Once Lyme disease was primarily diagnosed around the Mid-Atlantic and New England states; however, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is concerned, because it is now “endemic (prevalent) in the Northeast and much of the North Central United States including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania” (Smith, 2011, p. 1).
Community Response Research on Lyme disease has been initiated by local and state governments or provided for by funding from the U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services (HHS). The research includes aspects of the potential control of the spread of the disease including prevention, detection, treatment, and vaccine development. Even though a plethora of research exists, the community is slow to adopt many of the safe practices on a macro scale. Home owners are reluctant to spend personal income on tick abatement products even in highly endemic …show more content…
Although treatable the best course of action is to influence the attitudes of the community by developing a partnership between the community and public health initiatives. The CDC hopes through community health education and the adoption of preventative measures the prevalence of Lyme disease will be significantly reduced.
References
CDC. (2012). It 's spring: Time to prevent Lyme disease. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/Features/LymeDisease/.
Piesman, J. (2012). Prevention of tick-borne diseases. Journal Of Environmental Health, 74(10), 30.
Smith, P. (2011). Lyme disease appears on the rise. Retrieved from The Seattle Times: Health Section: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2014752683_lyme14.html.
World Health Organization. (2011). Retrieved April 24, 2011, from Health Education: http://www.who.int/topics/health_education/en/.
Content
60 Percent
Points Available
9
Points
HCS 457
September, 2012
Professor Michelle Clemmons
Article Review
The World Health Organization defines “Health education as any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes” (WHO, 2012, p. 2). The best weapon in preventing a disease outbreak is community action and education. Articles are published to provide valuable information regarding past and present disease trends. The following paper summarizes three articles regarding the prevalence of Lyme disease, its effect on the people, and the community health response.
Lyme Disease & History
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection …show more content…
The Lyme arthritis outbreak in Old Lyme, Connecticut that put Lyme disease on the cover of Time Magazine occurred in 1975. The first cases of canine Lyme were recognized in the 1980s” (Piesman, 2012, 30).
Community Effects
“More cases of Lyme disease are reported than any other vector-borne disease in the United States. There were 29,959 confirmed cases and 8509 probable cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2009” (CDC, 2012, p. 1) Once Lyme disease was primarily diagnosed around the Mid-Atlantic and New England states; however, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is concerned, because it is now “endemic (prevalent) in the Northeast and much of the North Central United States including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania” (Smith, 2011, p. 1).
Community Response Research on Lyme disease has been initiated by local and state governments or provided for by funding from the U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services (HHS). The research includes aspects of the potential control of the spread of the disease including prevention, detection, treatment, and vaccine development. Even though a plethora of research exists, the community is slow to adopt many of the safe practices on a macro scale. Home owners are reluctant to spend personal income on tick abatement products even in highly endemic …show more content…
Although treatable the best course of action is to influence the attitudes of the community by developing a partnership between the community and public health initiatives. The CDC hopes through community health education and the adoption of preventative measures the prevalence of Lyme disease will be significantly reduced.
References
CDC. (2012). It 's spring: Time to prevent Lyme disease. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/Features/LymeDisease/.
Piesman, J. (2012). Prevention of tick-borne diseases. Journal Of Environmental Health, 74(10), 30.
Smith, P. (2011). Lyme disease appears on the rise. Retrieved from The Seattle Times: Health Section: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2014752683_lyme14.html.
World Health Organization. (2011). Retrieved April 24, 2011, from Health Education: http://www.who.int/topics/health_education/en/.
Content
60 Percent
Points Available
9
Points