A minority of adults and caregivers use Lyme disease (LD) prevention measures despite high awareness, according to study results published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
An estimated 476,000 LD cases are diagnosed and treated yearly in the United States. Use of insect repellents and performing post-outdoor activity tick checks can reduce LD infections.
Researchers conducted an online cross-sectional survey to assess LD knowledge and preventive habits among individuals in the US. Adults (n=44,330) and caregivers (n=28,380) living in 26 jurisdictions with high LD incidence, in neighboring districts, or in California (CA) or Oregon (OR) were included in the analysis. The participants responded to a 10-to 15-minute-long survey about outdoor activities and personal protection behaviors.
The high prevalence of outdoor activities among residents of states with a high incidence of LD suggests that more effective strategies and education are needed to prevent LD.
The study population was evenly split by gender, and most participants were White and Non-Hispanic. The participants who lived in CA/OR were older than those living in high LD incidence or neighboring districts.
Between 88% and 92% of respondents reported spending time in their yard weekly and between 96% and 98% of caregivers reported their children spend time in the yard each week. Similarly, most adults (70%-79%) and caregivers (83%-84%) reported engaging in recreational activities in forests, wooded areas, or in tall grass between April and November. A minority of adults (32%-35%) and half of caregivers (51%) reported spending time outdoors for work or school.
The individuals who reported no outdoor activities were more likely to be women and to live in large cities and were less likely to be White.
More adults in high incidence areas (16%) or neighboring jurisdictions (15%) reported finding a tick on themselves in the past 6 months compared with those living in CA /OR (11%). Fewer adults in high incidence areas (40%) or neighboring jurisdictions (41%) reported never finding a tick on themselves than those living in CA /OR (51%). The rate of caregivers finding a tick on their child in the past 6 months was similar in high incidence (16%) and neighboring (15%) areas.
Between 1.8% and 5.8% of adults and between 5.4% and 6.0% of caregiver’s children had ever been diagnosed with LD.
Few individuals thought they or their child were at high risk for LD, even though 25.8% to 27.6% reported LD was a problem and common in their community.
More adults in high incidence areas (40%) reported always or almost always using repellents or checking for ticks after spending time in the forest, wooded area, or in tall grass than adults in neighboring jurisdictions (35%) or CA/OR (34%). Rates of always wearing repellent or checking for ticks were lower after spending time in the yard (17%-23%).
More adults living in high incidence areas (43%) would likely get an LD vaccine, if available, than those in neighboring jurisdictions (32%) or CA/OR (37%). More caregivers were interested in an LD vaccine for their child (40%-47%).
Study limitations include reduced generalizability and the potential for recall, reporting, or selection bias.
The researchers concluded, “Risk for LD is unpredictable, and risk areas are expanding.” They added, “The high prevalence of outdoor activities among residents of states with a high incidence of LD suggests that more effective strategies and education are needed to prevent LD.”
Disclosure: This research was supported by Pfizer. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.
This article originally appeared on Infectious Disease Advisor
