Question
from "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic"
by Carol Ann Moorhead
1 Nature, though usually my best friend, has sometimes been my nemesis: While backpacking in Africa, I had a heart-stopping stare-down with an angry lion. In Alaska, I was charged by a protective mother moose. In Yellowstone, I anxiously jingled bear bells while working in grizzly habitat. And while hiking in tame old Massachusetts, I was struck by lightning! So, the last force of nature I ever expected to bring me down was a tick the size of a sesame seed.
2 It was the summer of 2008. My husband, two young children, and I had temporarily moved to the Colorado Rockies. During the days, I "tried" to write and take care of our kids. But I couldn't seem to do anything but sit and sleep.
3 "It's the altitude," I kept telling my family. "I haven't adjusted yet." But secretly I wondered. I'd lived in the Rockies before, and I'd always acclimated quickly to the thin air. Weeks went by and instead of taking my kids backpacking or even hiking, I opted for lazy days by the river. No complaints there, except that I felt sluggish, disappointed, and definitely not myself.
4 Soon, I started having bouts of extreme fatigue. I called them "tsunamis" because when they hit, staying vertical was not an option. I'd crash on the couch or bed and sleep for an hour before I'd awaken, not exactly rested, but at least able to stand again.
5 My husband insisted I see a doctor, but since we were near the end of our stay I opted to wait until we returned home. On the long drive back to California, a joint on my left hand began to swell and throb and my right knee began to ache. By then I knew something was wrong with my body.
Dog-gone Tick!
6 Six months earlier, in March, my family and I had gone to an animal shelter near our home in California. There, we found a three-month old fluffy black pup. During our first days with "Cody" we discovered several ticks on him, either attached or ambling across his coat. Having picked ticks off many dogs, I thought nothing of it. I wasn't even alarmed when a few days later I found a tick imbedded in my upper thigh. But when its head didn't come out and the spot around it stayed inflamed, I went to see my doctor. She removed the head, and mentioning the possibility of Lyme disease, put me on a 10-day course of antibiotics. I knew very little about Lyme, but I took the medicine and afterward, put the tick bite out of my mind.
7 Six months later, I was back in my doctor's office explaining my symptoms of joint pain and fatigue. After blood work and laboratory tests, her diagnosis was confirmed: I had Lyme disease. Despite the short course of antibiotics following the tick bite, the Lyme had survived and multiplied inside my body.
What Exactly is Lyme?
8 Lyme disease is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite, a type of bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi (for short) is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Though rarely fatal, Lyme can cause symptoms as debilitating as those experienced by people with chronic heart disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). Many Lyme patients experience joint and muscle pain and extreme fatigue, as I did. Others, if the bacteria get into their central nervous system, may face short-term memory loss, speech problems, anxiety attacks, and many other symptoms. Doctors refer to Lyme as "The Great Imitator" because its symptoms can mimic a broad spectrum of illnesses.
9 Fortunately, if Lyme expresses itself early with its diagnostic bull's-eye skin rash, a month-long course of antibiotics is often enough to stop the infection. Unfortunately, many sufferers never develop bull's-eye rashes, or are prescribed an inadequate duration of antibiotics. In these cases, the symptoms progress slowly, making the disease harder to diagnose and treat.
*****
Lyme "Hot Spots"
10 Though cases of Lyme disease have been diagnosed in every state in the United States, it's not certain that all cases originated in the states in which they were diagnosed. What is certain is that there are three hot spots of Lyme disease in the nation: the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, the Upper Midwest, and Northern California. These humid hot spots support high numbers of Ixodes ticks, abundant populations of small mammals that host B. burgdorferi, burgeoning deer herds, fields and forests, and wooded backyards where people come in contact with ticks.
11 The best way to avoid contracting Lyme disease is to avoid getting bitten by a tick. If you live in a Lyme hot spot, it is especially important that you wear tick repellant and appropriate clothing when hiking, or even playing in backyard bushes and gardens. If you find a tick on you, it's critical that it's removed promptly but also properly. The last thing you want to do is squeeze Lyme bacteria into the bite. Once the tick is removed, remember to save it in a plastic bag, and take it to your local public health office. There it can be tested for Lyme disease.
A Growing Epidemic
12 "I think Lyme disease is truly spreading, not just the awareness of it," says Dr. Geordie Thomson, noting the increased incidence of Lyme cases down the East Coast. Dr. Thomson, a family medical doctor in Peterborough, New Hampshire, also notes that he has seen a dramatic jump in the number of Lyme patients within his own practice since 2003.
13 Dr. Stricker agrees that Lyme disease is a growing epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have reported a steady rise in new cases each year, up to 30,000 in 2009, but Dr. Stricker says "the actual number could be, at the very least, ten times what the CDC reports."
from "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" by Carol Ann Moorhead, from Odyssey Magazine, February 2011. Copyright © 2011 by Carus Publishing Company d/b/a Cricket Media.
Article Evidence only presented in one of the articles
"Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" Response area
"Lyme Disease: What you need to know" Response area
Skip to navigation
by Carol Ann Moorhead
1 Nature, though usually my best friend, has sometimes been my nemesis: While backpacking in Africa, I had a heart-stopping stare-down with an angry lion. In Alaska, I was charged by a protective mother moose. In Yellowstone, I anxiously jingled bear bells while working in grizzly habitat. And while hiking in tame old Massachusetts, I was struck by lightning! So, the last force of nature I ever expected to bring me down was a tick the size of a sesame seed.
2 It was the summer of 2008. My husband, two young children, and I had temporarily moved to the Colorado Rockies. During the days, I "tried" to write and take care of our kids. But I couldn't seem to do anything but sit and sleep.
3 "It's the altitude," I kept telling my family. "I haven't adjusted yet." But secretly I wondered. I'd lived in the Rockies before, and I'd always acclimated quickly to the thin air. Weeks went by and instead of taking my kids backpacking or even hiking, I opted for lazy days by the river. No complaints there, except that I felt sluggish, disappointed, and definitely not myself.
4 Soon, I started having bouts of extreme fatigue. I called them "tsunamis" because when they hit, staying vertical was not an option. I'd crash on the couch or bed and sleep for an hour before I'd awaken, not exactly rested, but at least able to stand again.
5 My husband insisted I see a doctor, but since we were near the end of our stay I opted to wait until we returned home. On the long drive back to California, a joint on my left hand began to swell and throb and my right knee began to ache. By then I knew something was wrong with my body.
Dog-gone Tick!
6 Six months earlier, in March, my family and I had gone to an animal shelter near our home in California. There, we found a three-month old fluffy black pup. During our first days with "Cody" we discovered several ticks on him, either attached or ambling across his coat. Having picked ticks off many dogs, I thought nothing of it. I wasn't even alarmed when a few days later I found a tick imbedded in my upper thigh. But when its head didn't come out and the spot around it stayed inflamed, I went to see my doctor. She removed the head, and mentioning the possibility of Lyme disease, put me on a 10-day course of antibiotics. I knew very little about Lyme, but I took the medicine and afterward, put the tick bite out of my mind.
7 Six months later, I was back in my doctor's office explaining my symptoms of joint pain and fatigue. After blood work and laboratory tests, her diagnosis was confirmed: I had Lyme disease. Despite the short course of antibiotics following the tick bite, the Lyme had survived and multiplied inside my body.
What Exactly is Lyme?
8 Lyme disease is an infection caused by a microscopic parasite, a type of bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi (for short) is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Though rarely fatal, Lyme can cause symptoms as debilitating as those experienced by people with chronic heart disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). Many Lyme patients experience joint and muscle pain and extreme fatigue, as I did. Others, if the bacteria get into their central nervous system, may face short-term memory loss, speech problems, anxiety attacks, and many other symptoms. Doctors refer to Lyme as "The Great Imitator" because its symptoms can mimic a broad spectrum of illnesses.
9 Fortunately, if Lyme expresses itself early with its diagnostic bull's-eye skin rash, a month-long course of antibiotics is often enough to stop the infection. Unfortunately, many sufferers never develop bull's-eye rashes, or are prescribed an inadequate duration of antibiotics. In these cases, the symptoms progress slowly, making the disease harder to diagnose and treat.
*****
Lyme "Hot Spots"
10 Though cases of Lyme disease have been diagnosed in every state in the United States, it's not certain that all cases originated in the states in which they were diagnosed. What is certain is that there are three hot spots of Lyme disease in the nation: the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, the Upper Midwest, and Northern California. These humid hot spots support high numbers of Ixodes ticks, abundant populations of small mammals that host B. burgdorferi, burgeoning deer herds, fields and forests, and wooded backyards where people come in contact with ticks.
11 The best way to avoid contracting Lyme disease is to avoid getting bitten by a tick. If you live in a Lyme hot spot, it is especially important that you wear tick repellant and appropriate clothing when hiking, or even playing in backyard bushes and gardens. If you find a tick on you, it's critical that it's removed promptly but also properly. The last thing you want to do is squeeze Lyme bacteria into the bite. Once the tick is removed, remember to save it in a plastic bag, and take it to your local public health office. There it can be tested for Lyme disease.
A Growing Epidemic
12 "I think Lyme disease is truly spreading, not just the awareness of it," says Dr. Geordie Thomson, noting the increased incidence of Lyme cases down the East Coast. Dr. Thomson, a family medical doctor in Peterborough, New Hampshire, also notes that he has seen a dramatic jump in the number of Lyme patients within his own practice since 2003.
13 Dr. Stricker agrees that Lyme disease is a growing epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have reported a steady rise in new cases each year, up to 30,000 in 2009, but Dr. Stricker says "the actual number could be, at the very least, ten times what the CDC reports."
from "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" by Carol Ann Moorhead, from Odyssey Magazine, February 2011. Copyright © 2011 by Carus Publishing Company d/b/a Cricket Media.
Article Evidence only presented in one of the articles
"Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" Response area
"Lyme Disease: What you need to know" Response area
Skip to navigation
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Analysis of Evidence Presented in "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic"**
In "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic," Carol Ann Moorhead provides personal anecdotes and factual information to illustrate the impact of Lyme disease. The article delves into the author's experiences with ticks and Lyme disease, which adds a personal touch to what can otherwise be a dry topic.
**1. Personal Experience:** Moorhead’s narrative begins with her vivid recollections of encounters with various wildlife and culminates in her battle with Lyme disease. This anecdotal evidence humanizes the issue and allows readers to relate to her struggles, making the threat of Lyme disease more tangible.
**2. Symptoms and Diagnosis:** The article outlines the author's symptoms—extreme fatigue, joint pain, and swelling—which serve as a personal case study of how Lyme disease can manifest. Her diagnosis process underscores the complexities of identifying Lyme disease, especially when initial symptoms may resemble other conditions.
**3. Explanation of Lyme Disease:** Moorhead adequately explains Lyme disease, including its causative agent (Borrelia burgdorferi), potential symptoms, and the challenges related to diagnosis and treatment. This information serves as educational evidence supporting the broader implications of Lyme disease and its difficulties in clinical settings.
**4. Hotspots and Preventative Measures:** The article discusses geographical hotspots for Lyme disease and preventative steps to avoid tick bites, making the audience aware of the risk factors associated with specific areas. This context emphasizes the prevalence of Lyme disease in certain regions, which can spark concern and encourage caution among readers.
**5. Growing Epidemic:** The inclusion of commentary from medical professionals, such as Dr. Geordie Thomson and Dr. Stricker, provides credibility to her claims about the increasing incidence of Lyme disease. The reported statistics from the CDC further substantiate the assertion that Lyme disease is becoming a growing public health concern.
In conclusion, "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" effectively combines personal narrative with scientifically relevant information, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of Lyme disease, its symptoms, and its implications. This personal perspective, alongside expert opinions and factual data, makes the article a compelling resource for anyone seeking to understand the impact of Lyme disease.
In "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic," Carol Ann Moorhead provides personal anecdotes and factual information to illustrate the impact of Lyme disease. The article delves into the author's experiences with ticks and Lyme disease, which adds a personal touch to what can otherwise be a dry topic.
**1. Personal Experience:** Moorhead’s narrative begins with her vivid recollections of encounters with various wildlife and culminates in her battle with Lyme disease. This anecdotal evidence humanizes the issue and allows readers to relate to her struggles, making the threat of Lyme disease more tangible.
**2. Symptoms and Diagnosis:** The article outlines the author's symptoms—extreme fatigue, joint pain, and swelling—which serve as a personal case study of how Lyme disease can manifest. Her diagnosis process underscores the complexities of identifying Lyme disease, especially when initial symptoms may resemble other conditions.
**3. Explanation of Lyme Disease:** Moorhead adequately explains Lyme disease, including its causative agent (Borrelia burgdorferi), potential symptoms, and the challenges related to diagnosis and treatment. This information serves as educational evidence supporting the broader implications of Lyme disease and its difficulties in clinical settings.
**4. Hotspots and Preventative Measures:** The article discusses geographical hotspots for Lyme disease and preventative steps to avoid tick bites, making the audience aware of the risk factors associated with specific areas. This context emphasizes the prevalence of Lyme disease in certain regions, which can spark concern and encourage caution among readers.
**5. Growing Epidemic:** The inclusion of commentary from medical professionals, such as Dr. Geordie Thomson and Dr. Stricker, provides credibility to her claims about the increasing incidence of Lyme disease. The reported statistics from the CDC further substantiate the assertion that Lyme disease is becoming a growing public health concern.
In conclusion, "Little Tick, Big Trouble: The Lyme Disease Epidemic" effectively combines personal narrative with scientifically relevant information, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of Lyme disease, its symptoms, and its implications. This personal perspective, alongside expert opinions and factual data, makes the article a compelling resource for anyone seeking to understand the impact of Lyme disease.