April 2019
Volume 52, Issue 5
The Freedom High School Jazz Band performs at SteelStacks in February 2019.
Photo: Mr. Andrew Lynn
Ticking off Lyme Disease
Lyme disease awareness month Sarah Healy The Freedom Forum
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Lyme Disease, a bacterial infection spread by the bite of nymphal deer ticks, is the most common insect-borne disease in the U.S. At this stage, the ticks are the size of a period at the end of a sentence. The scientific name for Lyme Disease is Borrelia Burgdorferi, which has over 300 strains. Lyme can affect any system of the body. Neurological problems are the most
Lyme Disease is commonly caused by ticks like these. Photo: Wikimedia
common effect, along with musculoskeletal, cardiac/pulmonary, and reproductive issues. “When I had [Lyme Disease], I felt tired all the time,” said Sophia Szvetecz, freshman. The most typical sign of Lyme Disease is a bull’s-eye rash, however this isn’t always the only sign. The person infected could show flu-like symptoms. The symptoms may come and go in varying degrees. “When I was first had it, I could never concentrate. It was hard to focus,” said Sophia Szvetecz, freshman. Common misdiagnoses are fibromyalgia, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. In children, common misdiagnoses are ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, dyslexia, autism, and depression. It’s very important to create an inhospitable environment for ticks. Ticks need moisture to live, so increasing sunlight exposure to a yard and moving play equipment into the sun can help prevent ticks. Other ways to prevent Lyme disease are to
avoid sitting or kneeling on the ground, walking on deer trails, and walking in the woods. DEET and Permethrin are tick sprays that can be used to prevent bites. After being outside, check hairline and where clothes fit tight for ticks. If a tick is found, use clean tweezers or a tick removal tool to remove it. When removing the tick, grasp it close to skin and slowly pull upward until the tick releases. It’s important to never use anything that could irritate the tick like: alcohol, Vaseline, etc. This may trigger injections of salivary fluids and disease-causing microbes. Unfortunately, it’s very hard to diagnose this disease. The common ELISA test one can receive at the doctor’s office misses up to 50% of culture proven Lyme Disease. ELISA stands for Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. This test is used to diagnose Lyme disease by detecting the antibodies of Borrelia Burgdorferi. Since it’s very difficult to determine if a person has Lyme Disease or not, it’s important to send test results to
Tick bites can be prevented by using a variety of sprays and insect repellants. Photo: Sarah Healy
the right facilities. Igenex, for example, is a reference laboratory specializing in state-of-the-art clinical and research testing for Lyme Disease and Associated Tick-borne Diseases. This is the best place to send your Lyme Disease tests to figure out if you have the disease. With warm weather returning, be safe this summer by taking preventative measures against ticks and Lyme Disease.
World Wide Web’s 30th anniversary
Rader’s Rant reaches its conclusion
Dear Riley: Prom edition
Spring sports analysis
A warning from founder Tim Berners-Lee
Gabrielle’s final rant recaps senior year
Advice upperclassmen should consider this spring
Will any FHS teams take home a District XI title?
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