Volume 21, Number 10—October 2015
Research
Epidemiology of Lyme Disease, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2002–2013
Todd F. Hatchette
, B. Lynn Johnston, Emily Schleihauf, Angela Mask, David Haldane, Michael Drebot, Maureen Baikie, Teri Cole, Sarah Fleming, Richard Gould, and Robbin Lindsay
, B. Lynn Johnston, Emily Schleihauf, Angela Mask, David Haldane, Michael Drebot, Maureen Baikie, Teri Cole, Sarah Fleming, Richard Gould, and Robbin Lindsay
Table 2
Characteristics of 329 reported LD case-patients, Nova Scotia Canada, 2002–2013*
| Characteristic | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| Sex | |
| M | 200 (60.8) |
| F |
129 (39.2) |
| Age group, y | |
| 0–9 | 31 (9.4) |
| 10–19 | 33 (10.0) |
| 20–29 | 17 (5.2) |
| 30–39 | 17 (5.2) |
| 40–49 | 32 (9.7) |
| 50–59 | 67 (20.4) |
| 60–69 | 76 (23.1) |
| 70–79 | 44 (13.4) |
| >80 |
12 (3.6) |
| Case definition met | |
| Confirmed | 241 (73.3) |
| Probable | |
| EM with history of exposure to endemic region | 66 (20.1) |
| Clinical evidence of illness without exposure
to endemic region with laboratory evidence |
22 (6.7) |
| Symptom† | |
| Rash, any reported | 295 (89.7) |
| Influenza-like illness | 229 (69.6) |
| EM, physician-diagnosed | 175 (53.2) |
| Recurrent brief episodes of large joint swelling | 77 (23.4) |
| Bell palsy | 23 (7.0) |
| Nervous system symptoms, excluding Bell palsy | 21 (6.4) |
| Cardiovascular system signs |
4 (1.2) |
| History of tick bite | |
| Definite | 87 (26.4) |
| Possible, exposure to wooded or brushy regions | 199 (60.5) |
| Unknown |
43 (13.1) |
| DHA of residence‡ | |
| DHA 1 | 235 (71.4) |
| DHA 2 | 21 (6.4) |
| DHA 3 | 9 (2.7) |
| DHA 4 | 4 (1.2) |
| DHA 5 | 1 (0.3) |
| DHA 6 | 8 (2.4) |
| DHA 7 | 4 (1.2) |
| DHA 8 | 2 (0.6) |
| DHA 9 |
45 (13.7) |
| Hospitalized | 13 (4.0) |
*Endemic regions as defined in June 2014. Some cases classified to exposure retrospectively (i.e., case occurred before endemic region were declared). DHA, District Health Authority; EM, erythema migrans; LD, Lyme disease.
†More than 1 symptom might be reported per case-patient. Rash, any reported, includes EM. Cardiovascular system signs include atrioventricular block, mycarditis, other.
‡DHA 1, endemic regions declared in 2003 and 2012; DHA 2, endemic regions declared in 2008 and 2011; DHA 6, endemic region declared in 2010; DHA 9, endemic region declared in 2006.
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Page updated: September 22, 2015
Page reviewed: September 22, 2015
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