Lyme Disease
CASE STUDY: LYME DISEASE
Cherron Boswell, Denise Colton, and La Nita Hood
Bowie State University
Introduction Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and Europe. Lyme disease is steadily increasing in the United States and the majorities of health care providers are unfamiliar with the disease; primarily because of its complexity and as a result lack the clinical skills necessary to provide comprehensive care to infected patients. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the health problem of the disease, epidemiology, incidence and prevalence, pathophysiology, application of the nursing theory, and present the case study with an appropriate plan of care.
Overview of Health Problem Lyme disease is the leading cause of vector-borne infections in the U.S. with about 15,000 cases reported annually (Bacon, Kugeler, & Mead, 2008). In order to provide comprehensive care the healthcare provider must recognize the progression of the disease as well as the associated symptoms. According to Ignatavicius &Workman (2010) Lyme disease progresses through three stages: * Localized stage 1 (early stage)- symptoms begin in three to thirty days of the tick bite and the patient presents with flu-like symptoms, muscle and joint pain and stiffness, and “erythema migrans”, an oval or round, flat or slightly raised rash resembling a “bull’s eye”. * Stage 2 (early disseminated stage)-symptoms occur two to twelve weeks after the tick bite. During this phase the patient may develop cardiac symptoms such as carditis, palpitations, dizziness, or dyspnea, as well as central nervous system anomalies such as meningitis, facial paralysis, or peripheral neuritis. * Stage 3 (chronic persistent stage)-this is the late stage where symptoms may develop months to years after the tick bite. During this stage arthritis, chronic fatigue, and memory problems may develop. As with any infectious disease, if left
Cherron Boswell, Denise Colton, and La Nita Hood
Bowie State University
Introduction Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and Europe. Lyme disease is steadily increasing in the United States and the majorities of health care providers are unfamiliar with the disease; primarily because of its complexity and as a result lack the clinical skills necessary to provide comprehensive care to infected patients. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the health problem of the disease, epidemiology, incidence and prevalence, pathophysiology, application of the nursing theory, and present the case study with an appropriate plan of care.
Overview of Health Problem Lyme disease is the leading cause of vector-borne infections in the U.S. with about 15,000 cases reported annually (Bacon, Kugeler, & Mead, 2008). In order to provide comprehensive care the healthcare provider must recognize the progression of the disease as well as the associated symptoms. According to Ignatavicius &Workman (2010) Lyme disease progresses through three stages: * Localized stage 1 (early stage)- symptoms begin in three to thirty days of the tick bite and the patient presents with flu-like symptoms, muscle and joint pain and stiffness, and “erythema migrans”, an oval or round, flat or slightly raised rash resembling a “bull’s eye”. * Stage 2 (early disseminated stage)-symptoms occur two to twelve weeks after the tick bite. During this phase the patient may develop cardiac symptoms such as carditis, palpitations, dizziness, or dyspnea, as well as central nervous system anomalies such as meningitis, facial paralysis, or peripheral neuritis. * Stage 3 (chronic persistent stage)-this is the late stage where symptoms may develop months to years after the tick bite. During this stage arthritis, chronic fatigue, and memory problems may develop. As with any infectious disease, if left