from "Lyme Disease: What you need to know"
1 What you can do to protect yourself
You can decrease the chances of being bitten by a tick with a few precautions.
2 Avoid tick-infested areas. This is especially important in May, June, and July. Many local health departments and park or extension services have information on the local distribution of ticks. If you are in tick-infested areas, walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges.
3 Use insect repellent. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions. You can also treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Permethrin can also be used on tents and some camping gear. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying repellent.
4 Perform daily tick checks. Always check for ticks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Because ticks must usually be attached for at least a day before they can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, early removal can reduce the risk of infection. Inspect all body surfaces carefully, and remove attached ticks with tweezers. Avoid crushing the tick's body. DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products. Grasp the tick firmly and as close to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick's body away from the skin. Do not be alarmed if the tick's mouthparts remain in the skin. Cleanse the area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
5 Bathe or shower. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you. Ticks can get a ride indoors on your clothes. After being outdoors, tumble dry clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that are attached to clothing.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and act quickly
6 The early diagnosis and proper treatment of Lyme disease are important strategies to avoid the costs and complications of late-stage illness. As soon as you notice a characteristic rash or other possible symptoms, consult your health care provider.
7 Early Lyme disease: The early stage of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
a characteristic skin rash, called erythema migrans
fatigue
chills and fever
headache
muscle and joint pain
swollen lymph nodes
8 Erythema migrans is a red circular rash that often appears at the site of the tick bite, usually within 3 to 14 days after the bite of an infected tick. The rash then grows larger. Sometimes many rashes appear, varying in shapes and sizes. Common sites are the thighs, groin, trunk, and armpits. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, resulting in a "bull's-eye" appearance. The rash may be warm, but it usually is not painful. Not all rashes that occur at the site of a tick bite are due to Lyme disease, however. An allergic reaction to tick saliva can also occur and be confused with the "bull's-eye" rash of Lyme disease. Allergic reactions to tick saliva usually appear within hours to a few days after the tick bite, usually do not expand, and disappear within a few days.
9 Late Lyme disease: Some signs and symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks or months after a tick bite:
Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees.
Nervous system symptoms can include numbness, pain, nerve paralysis (often of the facial muscles, usually on one side), and meningitis (fever, stiff neck, and severe headache).
Rarely, irregularities of the heart rhythm may occur.
Problems with memory or concentration, fatigue, headache, and sleep disturbances sometimes persist after treatment.
10 Different people exhibit different signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. Some people never develop a bull's-eye rash. Some people only develop arthritis, and for others nervous system problems are the only symptom of Lyme disease.
11 Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to those of other diseases. The fever, muscle aches, and fatigue of Lyme disease can be mistaken for viral infections, such as influenza or infectious mononucleosis. Joint pain can be mistaken for other types of arthritis, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and neurologic signs can mimic those caused by other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. Other infections, arthritis, or neurologic diseases can also be misdiagnosed as Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease—past, present, and future
12 Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975 after an unusual outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. Today, over 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC each year; the true number of infections is thought to be several fold higher. Research continues to address the following concerns:
Where ticks are most likely to be and how best to protect against them.
Which chemicals and other alternative strategies are best for controlling ticks in each kind of habitat.
Ways of making diagnostic tests more accurate.
Which factors influence the geographic spread of Lyme disease.
The number of cases of Lyme disease reported to CDC has increased steadily over the past 25 years. Improved prevention methods against Lyme disease are one of CDC's key priorities. Credits: Centers for Disease Control
from "Lyme Disease: What you need to know." Centers For Disease Control. www.cdc.gov. Public Domain.
Question
Which sentence best summarizes the text?
Responses
Lyme disease first occurred in 1975 and is responsible for over 30,000 infections every year.
Lyme disease first occurred in 1975 and is responsible for over 30,000 infections every year.
People may experience a variety of symptoms with Lyme disease, so it can be hard to diagnose.
People may experience a variety of symptoms with Lyme disease, so it can be hard to diagnose.
People should take steps to avoid ticks and should be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease.
People should take steps to avoid ticks and should be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease.
Lyme disease in the early stage differs in many ways from Lyme disease in its later stage.
1 answer
The sentence that best summarizes the text is:
People should take steps to avoid ticks and should be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease.
This statement captures the primary focus of the passage, which outlines prevention methods and the importance of recognizing symptoms for early diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
