The Limping Child: Could It Be Lyme Arthritis? Information and Planning for School Nurses.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with Lyme arthritis becoming one of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease. It is imperative that school nurses become familiar with vector-borne disease and promptly consider Lyme arthritis to be contemplated as a differential diagnosis of a child presenting to the office with a limp and joint pain and swelling with no history of acute injury. The following article will discuss the overview, implications and management of Lyme arthritis in the school setting and includes a relevant IHP for school nurses to utilize in practice.

Lyme disease: recognition and management for emergency nurses.

Over the past ten years there has been a significant rise in the number of people who present to emergency departments with Lyme disease. Although some patients remain asymptomatic many present with a rash around a previous tick bite and others may present with a range of debilitating symptoms that can be problematic if left untreated. Due to the growing prevalence of Lyme disease in the UK and the US this article gives an overview of the vector-borne condition and provides emergency nurses with information about the pathophysiology, prevention, presenting signs and symptoms and management.

Recognizing and treating Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States. After initial antibiotic treatment for patients with Lyme disease, ongoing symptoms that may persist have considerable long-term impact on healthcare costs. Posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome is characterized by a host of chronic symptoms that can leave patients physically and mentally disabled.

Tick bites and Lyme disease: the need for timely treatment.

In the United States, 30,158 people were reported as having contracted Lyme disease during 2010; 96% of the cases in 2011 were reported from 13 northeast and north-central states. Time of tick attachment is a critical factor. Prolonged attachment allows time for a bacterium to move from tick to human. Patient history and meticulous skin inspection are the most important elements used in diagnosis of Lyme disease. The most common drug for treatment is doxycycline. Ticks find their hosts by several senses: odor, moisture, heat, and vibration. Avoidance of tick-infested areas, such as wooded areas and leaf piles, is paramount in preventing Lyme disease.

You can make a difference to a child by reducing risk of Lyme disease.

Early detection is critical since you are on the front lines when educating school staff and students. You, as the school nurse, can make a huge difference in a child's life by providing guidance on Lyme disease prevention, detection, and treatment to your school staff, as well as the parents of the community.

Update on lyme disease: the hidden epidemic.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Diagnosis is problematic for many reasons, including unsatisfactory laboratory tests and confusion about test interpretation. When Lyme disease is diagnosed early, treatment is usually successful with oral antibiotics. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often missed, allowing the infection to disseminate and affect every body system. When Lyme disease affects the central nervous system, it is often treated with intravenous antibiotics in the home setting. Infusion nurses who are experienced with the myriad symptoms and treatment challenges of these complex patients will be a reassuring asset to patients and physicians alike.

A Lyme disease case study and individualized healthcare plan.

The Atlantic and Pacific coasts are the boundaries of Lyme disease with the Northeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States continuing to report the majority of cases. New reported cases of Lyme disease doubled from 1991 to 2001 according to statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within that population are more children between the ages of 5 and 9. The younger the child, the more difficult it is to diagnose Lyme disease. Children under the age of 19 are at high risk for Lyme disease because of the amount of time spent in outdoor activities during the late spring and summer. These months correlate with the tick breeding cycle and the peak time for outdoor recreational activities. Lyme disease can pose serious health risks in late stage illness. A Lyme disease case study on a school-age child provides comprehensive assessment data, interventions, and educational information for parents. A template of an individualized healthcare plan using standardized language is a guide for school nurses. The value of school nurses as guardians of the public's health is addressed.

The impact of Lyme disease on school children.

Lyme disease presents a new challenge to school nursing. It has an impact on children's physical health and the cognitive processing required for learning. School nurses are faced with caring for these children in the school setting. In order to provide that care, school nurses must become familiar with the pathophysiology of the disease and understand the body's immune response to the infection. They need to be cognizant of the environments known to have a high geographic distribution of Lyme disease. Assessment of the child's present living environment or travel history may indicate exposure to Lyme disease in a particular endemic area. Planning to meet the health needs of children with Lyme disease is not limited to the school setting. Opportunities await school nursing expertise in community education, medical treatment regimens, health insurance coverage, implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (504), and political action to bring public awareness to this potentially debilitating disease.

Community health nurses' knowledge of Lyme disease: implications for surveillance and community education.

A statewide assessment was conducted to determine the general knowledge and professional practices about Lyme disease (LD) of local health department nurses. The study sample included 226 nurses practicing in 80 health departments in Indiana. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using group independent t tests. Findings showed that nurses were most knowledgeable about personal protection against LD and least knowledgeable about symptoms, case definition, and reporting criteria. Nonbaccalaureate degreed nurses scored significantly higher on questions about LD than the baccalaureate or master's prepared nurses. Results point to the need for better dissemination of LD information among public health nurses, expanded LD education for the public, and further development of LD surveillance activities.