(^162) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
- Provide supportive care.
- Encourage fluids and adequate nutrition.
- Rest.
- Offer psychotherapy.
- Exercise regimen.
Lyme Disease
WHAT WENT WRONG?
A bite from a deer tick causes the bacteria (a spirochete) Borrelia burgdorferi,to
be transmitted into the human blood stream. The patient presents with fever, myal-
gias and the classic bull’s eye rash, erythema chronicum migrans up to three weeks
following the bite.
PROGNOSIS
Early treatment generally leads to a better outcome. Lingering constitutional symp-
toms occasionally occur.
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Fever
- Generalized aches
- Headache
- Rash at site of the bite (patient may not recall bite)
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- IgM antibody is elevated.
- Lyme titers may be drawn.
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