The Concept of Child Abuse - Free Essay Example

Abstract: The concept of child abuse can be defined as any action that comes from the person responsible for the child, either by commission or omission, which puts (or can put) at risk the physical, emotional or cognitive integrity of the child. One of the determining aspects that are analyzed to assess the existence or not of this phenomenon comes from the study of the environment in which the child develops. Usually speaking of a maladaptive or harmful environment when various factors occur such as a restructuring at the family level in which they frequently resort to aggressive interactions, low affection, a marginal socio-economic level, a dysfunctional school environment at the psych pedagogical level, a social environment lacking interests, insufficient cultural-urbanistic resources, or presence of a conflictive environment in the neighborhood.. Introduction: A definition of child abuse is similar to that described is that of the General Assembly of the United Nations of 1989: Child maltreatment is any form of violence, physical or mental harm or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, ill-treatment or exploitation, which occurs while the child is in the custody of their parents, a guardian or any other person who is in charge. General overview of child development: During the first 8 years of a childs life, many changes occur. In just a few years, he goes from being a helpless baby, dependent on his parents, to becoming a small self-employed with his own interests that has already formed an image of the world. In fact, if we look back we will be amazed at how much it has grown and the huge leap that it has taken at the psychological level. The development of the baby from 0 to 12 months During the first year of life, the baby grows in sight and goes from being a child who can not stand alone to being a child who launches to discover their environment and actively relates to those around him. In this period his movements are perfected. At 5 months he is already able to pick up small objects with his hand, a movement known as a grasping reflex that represents the anteroom of the gripper grip, which, later on, will allow him to hold the pencil to write and make his first abstract drawings . Before the first year he will be able to hold his head on his own and crawl, and between 9 and 12 months, sometimes a little later, he will begin to take his first steps (Kleinman, 2015). During this stage his main means of communication is crying, although around the second month of life he will begin to show what is known as social smile, since until now his smile was a simple reflection. Around 7 months will begin to stammer some loose syllables, such as pa or ma, which will allow you to train your speech device. During these first months he will also begin to react to stimuli that are pleasing to him and will be more interested in seeing and hearing what is happening around him. And after 5 months your range of emotions will be greatly expanded since not only will you feel happy when you are caressed, but you will also get irritated when you do not get what you want The development of the child from 1 to 2 years From the first year of life the child gains independence, is able to communicate better what he wants and his motor and cognitive skills are developed at high speed. At this age most, children will have already taken their first steps. At the beginning you will need a little help and it is likely that you walk leaning on the furniture to avoid falling, but as the months go by, you will gain in balance and you will be able to walk alone. In fact, at the end of 2 years you will be able to run and go up and down stairs with relative ease. At the same time, his fine motor skills are developed, the manual movements become more precise and at 2 years he will be able to use the spoon to take the food to his mouth without spilling the contents (Van der Kolk, 2017). At this stage you can already say some words with meaning and understand simple commands such as give me or take. In fact, your vocabulary will consist of about 50 words, which will allow you to communicate more easily. You can also answer yes or no to the questions you ask, as well as identify some objects and animals using onomatopoeic sounds. In addition, he is able to relate the story he hears to the illustrations of childrens stories, an important step in the development of his verbal expression and symbolic thought. Around the year he will also begin to release his incipient character and will be able to experience and express more complex feelings such as shame, pride and jealousy. However, the first temper tantrums also appear because he is still not able to regulate his emotions. Development of the child from 2 to 4 years In this period the child is more independent and enjoys his autonomy. He has gained more control over his movements and feels more confident. His social skills have also improved so he will be more cooperative at home and start making friends on his own. Now he will practically double his height with respect to the moment of birth. Your balance and coordination will have improved significantly, so that you can throw a ball high and even jump on one foot. However, one of the most important changes is that lateral dominance begins to manifest itself, so that you will start using one hand more than the other, which will help you to fine-tune your fine motor movements. By the time you are 4 years old, you will have incorporated into your language around 1,000 words, so you can prepare sentences with up to 5 words, which helps you to communicate better. His thinking and intelligence are also developing, so that he is now able to understand more complicated concepts. Your memory has also been consolidated and you can remember simple commands, count up to 4 easily, distinguish colors and differentiate objects according to their characteristics (Christian Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2015). However, the fact that he is able to express himself better does not mean that he has full control of his emotions. Temper tantrums and crying persist at this stage as he still does not know how to express his feelings assertively. It is also usual to be more rebellious when you feel too much pressure or when you want to assert your opinion and defend your independence. The development of the child from 4 to 8 years At this age the child is already independent enough to do most of his daily activities alone, so he will begin to test his skills. Between the ages of 4 and 8 he achieves an almost perfect control of his movements, so he begins to acquire new coordination skills that will allow him to learn how to ride a bike or skate. His fine motor skills are also perfected, in fact, his strokes are much firmer, he already knows how to write with relative ease and can even tear and cut with great precision. From the intellectual point of view, when you reach 8 years old, you already have a very broad vocabulary that allows you to clearly express what you want and think. He already knows how to use pronouns, articles and prepositions well and is able to conjugate verbs. In fact, the grammatical construction of his sentences is almost perfect and pronunciation errors are already a thing of the past. Her ideas have also undergone a great change, are based more on reality and no longer confused with their fantasies. In addition, his abstract thinking begins to develop. Now his feelings are more lasting, which is related to the psychological maturity and emotional development he has achieved. He is also more aware of his emotions and able to express or hide them. He has also learned to grasp a broader range of emotions and be more empathetic to others Child maltreatment can be defined as those active or omitted behavior, intentional or negligent, occasional or maintained in time that compromise the physical or emotional integrity of minors, their sexual freedom and indemnity or, in general, their correct development. An adequate response to child maltreatment requires establishing guidelines for action that should guide the intervention of the different public institutions and the different areas of professional action, from an integrated and intersectoral approach and according to the responsibility that each one of them has. And all this, with the fundamental objective of preserving and defending the rights of minors and intervening when they are violated, especially in situations of abuse. Its construction, like any other, is a gradual process that is accomplished in stages. During childhood this structure is very fragile and that is why children are endowed with the so-called childhood innocence, which allows them to perceive the world above all as a place full of magic, beauty and harmony. In the same way that it is necessary to initially support the foundations of a building and wait for them to solidify before carrying them with all the weight they will bear, children need the protection of their family and society so that their mind and heart they are fed with the kind realities of life as they develop the capacities and strengths to support the most painful and negative aspects of it. But unfortunately, TV, and now the Internet, are exposing children to all sorts of violent, infamous and immortal stories and events that their fragile childhood condition is not designed to carry. Thus, a vast majority of them are now victims of what Mary Pipher, Ph.D (reviving Oph elia) called cultural abuse, a term that describes this subtle and dangerous form of child abuse. In fact, until the first half of the century the facts and customs of life, that is to say culture, were transmitted first of all through the teachings of the elderly and, for some, through the written media. Children were thus subject to limited information, which wise and gradual, gave their elders. But in recent years, television has destroyed that gradual process of revealing the less kind truths, exposing children, from very young, to all sorts of scenes and stories bloody, infamous or tenebrous. Children, and even teenagers, do not have the emotional solidity or the moral criteria to see, for example, how many young girls are sold on the streets to buy drinks or drugs, how children like them kill their own parents with bullets, how young gangsters are brutally brutalized by blows, or how women also rape men, all this represented in great detail. And the damage does not end there. The problem is not that television does not educate enough, but rude and irresistible force, teaching children a series of behaviors that go against the fundamental ethical principles of any society that seeks the welfare of its members. And the culture that transmits TV is filling children with distrust, hopelessness, anguish, aggression, and what is worse, confusion between what is right and what is wrong. And this is a form of abuse. The characters that this is happening are not only the producers and sponsors of the television programs. The biggest fault lies with the public that tune them because if they did not have an audience they would not continue to be presented. But the incredible thing is that parents are accomplices of this abuse by allowing our children to spend their free time entertained by perverts, guerrillas, murderers, women of happy life, etc., under the pretext that we can not do anything because the culprits are the programmers of TV. What would we do if someone happened to distribute to home, and directly to children, sexual stimulants, firearms, or illicit drugs? It is our obligation to avoid, however, that our children continue to consume the atrocities that daily and in their own home they offer these devices. Loving children is to protect them against everything that hurts them. The audiovisual media are seriously damaging the mental structure and moral integrity of our children, cracking the foundations on which they will build their lives. Just as no building can stand firm without good foundations, no life can be built and become full without solid foundations that constitute its starting point. It is in our hands to avoid the collapse of our children and with it the collapse of a promising future for them and for our society. Child abuse interventions: Abuse of children by their parents or other caregivers is a major problem in public health and social welfare in many countries, especially high-income ones. It is a common problem that can cause death, serious injuries and long-term consequences that will affect the life of the child in adulthood, his family and society in general. The WHO 2006 report on the prevention of child maltreatment emphasizes the need to pay attention to this issue in order to achieve investment in prevention and epidemiological surveillance. There are determining factors within the characteristics of the mistreatment and the or the abusers. Most of the time parents have problems with substance abuse, mental illness or mental disability and violence. Girls are more at risk of being sexually abused than boys, although the rates of other types of abuse are similar for both sexes in high-income countries. In underdeveloped countries, girls are at greater risk of infanticide, sexual abuse and neglect, while children are at greater risk of severe physical punishment. Children with disabilities, regardless of their gender, have a higher risk of abuse, although it has not been determined exactly to what extent their disability is a cause or consequence of the abuse. Abuse increases in minors the risk of suffering behavior problems, including internalization (anxiety, depression) and externalization (aggression) of behavior. Children who witness violence inflicted between their parents are at greater risk of presenting behavioral problems, but if this factor is independent of the other forms of abuse it is debatable. In Sweden, there is a therapeutic program that aims to develop intervention for children and adolescents exposed to negligence or domestic violence. Its objective was to implement a new treatment in that country: Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect, MST-CAN. Based on the US MST program, MST-CAN is an outpatient intervention; the treatment focuses on the network of family and friends and the environment of each family. His multi-system perspective addresses change in all family systems: work, school, family, neighbors, family relationships and friends. The goal is both children from households in which there is neglect and / or abuse as parents or other relevant adults with mental health problems and addictions. In addition, it includes the treatment of traumas, both for adults and children, and intensive pharmacological treatment for parents, if applicable. As a result of the intervention, it provides children and adolescents with a safer home environment, and helps parents take more responsibility in their role, eliminating psychological and physical violence (Finkelhor, Shattuck, Turner Hamby, 2014). Since the 1980s, it has been an option for social services in various countries. In the Netherlands, for example, it is the private sector through insurers that supports this program, positively influencing the decrease in crime. In Sweden, several municipalities join and buy the team of professionals consisting of a supervisor, four therapists and a psychiatrist. The effective treatment for a family is estimated between six and nine months. The average number of beneficiaries reaches five people. The therapists meet with each family three to five times a week and work out the objectives that the family members themselves formulate. The work is carried out mainly in the family home or in the places where the family resides, for example, the childrens school. The therapists work at times that suit the family, often afternoons and weekends, and the team has an availability to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. References Kleinman, P. K. (Ed.). (2015).Diagnostic imaging of child abuse. Cambridge University Press. Van der Kolk, B. A. (2017). This issue: child abuse victimization.Psychiatric Annals,35(5), 374-378. Christian, C. W., Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2015). The evaluation of suspected child physical abuse.Pediatrics, peds-2015. Devries, K. M., Mak, J. Y., Child, J. C., Falder, G., Bacchus, L. J., Astbury, J., Watts, C. H. (2014). Childhood sexual abuse and suicidal behavior: a meta-analysis.Pediatrics,133(5), e1331-e1344. Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H. A., Hamby, S. L. (2014). The lifetime prevalence of child sexual abuse and sexual assault assessed in late adolescence.Journal of Adolescent Health,55(3), 329-333.

United States Of America Safe From Foreign Threats Is Far...

Keeping the United States of America safe from foreign threats is far from an easy task. However, preventing domestic threats is a much more complicated and delicate one. Government organizations such as the National Security Agency [NSA] are known to have invaded our privacy through our connection to technology. The NSA has publicly admitted to the surveillance. Due to media coverage, the NSA is often viewed as the main agency that bulk collects data. Emails, phone calls, and even our text messages have been surveilled under an NSA program known as â€Å"PRISM† (â€Å"Domestic Surveillance Techniques†). Everyday government organizations invade our privacy for the sake of national security in an attempt to defend us from domestic threats, but it seems they often take surveillance a step too far. United States citizens should understand legality of these actions, as well as the purpose this data collection serves. Collecting data off of individual devices from specific citizens of the United States is not an illegal act, as long as the data was retrieved with the permission of a judge. It’s easy to compare a search through your phone with a government official or agent going through your car or even your home. It is not legally allowed unless the person being investigated gives explicit consent, or the agency going through your personal property has reasonable grounds to investigate, otherwise known as probable cause. Often when someone s data is analyzed they are under a criminalShow MoreRelatedThe Rights Of The United States847 Words   |  4 PagesEvery year people from all over the world come to the United States for a myriad of reasons. Some to seek employment, some education, and others to seek safe haven from violence and oppression from foreign governments. Regardless of the reason, the beauty of the United States is that the protections afforded by the constitution apply t o anyone within its territory. However, since the terrorist attack against the United States on September 11, 2001, the protections of the constitution have sinceRead MoreThe Political Issue Of Immigration2073 Words   |  9 PagesImmigration or Deportation The United States’ Immigration Reform David Morales Hillsborough Community College Intro to Political Science Dr. Prifti July 31st, 2016  Abstract This research paper explores the political issue of Immigration in the present day (2016) United States. The paper is meant to give an understanding of the issue, the importance of immigration reform, as well as a thorough analysis of the role the three branches of The United States Government: Judicial, Legislative, and Executive;Read MoreAmerica s Foreign Policies And Outlook On National Security Protocol2150 Words   |  9 Pageshorrific event that had changed America’s foreign policies and outlook on national security protocol. The response that the U.S. government had towards this act of terror was a response involving the pursuit of justice against those who committed the heinous actions that killed thousands of innocent Americans. The U.S. government wanted to combat our enemies by pursuing national interests in an attempt to stop the occurrences of terrorism that were occurring from the Middle East region. The governmentRead MoreThe Decline Of America During The Unit ed States2881 Words   |  12 Pages The Decline of America In 2013, The United States spent over $737 billion on its military, at a time where the country is in an economic crisis. The United States spends more money on the military then most of the world combined, it’s no secret that the U.S is known as the world’s police. What are the consequences that will come with this, the American citizens are already feeling the effects of modern imperialism. In order to maintain the world police status, the United Sates continues toRead MoreEssay on The Politics of Going Green2153 Words   |  9 Pageswhich side is correct, it seems only reasonable to me to explore alterative energy sources because our planet has a limited supply of fossil fuels. â€Å"Repowering America† will not be an easy task but I believe it is essential for our country’s economic and national stability. So, what has kept America, or more specifically America’s politicians, from leading in what is possibly the most important dilemma fac ing our planet? Strong public support for cleaner water, air, and soil began in the 1960’s. PublicRead MoreCyber Security and Cyber Weapons3827 Words   |  16 Pagesâ€Å"Securing  a  computer  system  has  traditionally  been  a  battle  of  wits:  the  penetrator  tries  to  find the  holes,  and  the  designer  tries  to  close  them.†Ã‚  Ã‚  ~Gosser Warfare  has  always  been  a  game  of  cat  and  mouse.  As  technology  increases  war  has  to  adapt with  it.  Wars  have  evolved  from  a  contest  of  strength  to  a  show  of  potential.  Previously  wars  were fought  with  large  armies  and  whomever  could  most  effectively  utilize  the  most  troops  with  better training  won;  now  however,  a  single  person  with  a  nuclear  bomb  can  destroy  a  city  within  secondsRead MoreThe Effects Of Child Trafficking On Children2912 Words   |  12 Pagescases can escalate to the death of the victims. Child trafficking is one of the most dangerous issues affecting in a local and global extent. Child trafficking has a far-reaching history that explains who, what, and where in great emphasis. Our government and others around the world have set policies that have tried to fight this issue. From this programs or policies, possible solutions have risen to help eliminate child trafficking, as well as assistance for victims. Today it is not rare to turn on yourRead More American Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century: Consensus and Legitimacy6594 Words   |  27 PagesLegitimacy Abstract: Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been the world’s only unquestioned superpower. How the United States evaluates its position as global hegemon has important consequences for American foreign policy, particularly with regards to the potential for future policy constraints. Thus, this paper seeks to consider the question: How durable is American hegemony? The paper first defines the state of American hegemony and then considers the primary challengers:Read MoreThe Threat Of Cyber Security4382 Words   |  18 Pagesthe 21st century, cyber security is an international issue. The threat of cyber warfare is very real and would be devastating beyond any conventional weapon imaginable. With the entire globe becoming more interconnected, an attack on online infrastructure could ground airplanes, control information access, hijack nuclear facilities, and perhaps most terrifyingly, bring the global economy to a screeching halt, creating havoc from Wal l Street to The City and beyond. What is different and challengingRead More Free Speech Essay2089 Words   |  9 PagesFree Speech â€Å"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.† These words were spoken by Benjamin Franklin, one of our nation’s founding fathers, when the United States was still a newly independent country. Free speech, which is defined as the right to express any opinion in public without censorship or restraint by the government, is a subject that is still present in the minds of many people today. At one extreme of the spectrum is a group of

Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) Essay - 1822 Words

As Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by significant challenges in communication and social skills as well as behaviour, it leaves individuals who have been diagnosed having difficulty deciphering the social cues, and body language that is intrinsic to romantic and sexual relations. The frequency of reported ASD in children has increased dramatically over the last forty years across the globe, though experts are uncertain as to what exactly has caused the rate of diagnosis to increase so sharply. According to the most recent data provided by the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention the prevalence of diagnosis had risen to a rate of 1-in-68 children (Christensen, Baio, Braun et al. 2016). This leaves many of current and future generations with severe questions on the means of who they are and how they can pursue a romantic a sexual relationship, when they have difficulty differentiating between a friendly touch and flirt ing due to their limited theory of mind.The exact cause of Autism, be it genetic or environmental is still not completely determined, with much research particularly lately going into genetic and hormonal differentials between individuals with ASD and the general population, As with many instances of the question of nature versus nurture, most of scientists have come to a census on the middle ground; it’s both. in this literature review we will largely be ignoring environmental factors. Given theShow MoreRelatedAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1722 Words   |  7 Pagesin every sixty-eight births are diagnosed with the Autism spectrum disorder in other words (ASD), which is about one percent of the world’s population. And that more than three point five million people in America live with a person who has the Autism spectrum disorder. We all know that Autism is a spectrum disorder in which an abnormality is developed in the brain. It is a long life condition that has no cure for itself. People who have Autism face many difficulties in their communication and theirRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1441 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder. Like many other psychological disorders, it is commonly misunderstood in popular culture. Many allude to it casually, often equating it with crippling social awkwardness and disability when it is in fact a spectrum disorder with many degrees of severity. It is somewhat of an enigma within the scientific community as well; there are many things we do not know about ASD and there is ongoing research to learn moreRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1569 Words   |  7 Pagesdiagnoses for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occur has seen a dramatic growth in numbers. With diagnoses for ASD increasing, more siblings are also being found to have grown up with a sister or brother with autism spectrum disorder. Previous studies have shown no consensus on whether or not siblings of persons with ASD are at risk for negative effects. However, patterns of anxiety among these siblings are being examined to see if charac teristics of a child with autism spectrum disorder and their parentsRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1535 Words   |  7 PagesHow Autism Influences the Interactions with Others There is a little boy that gets up every morning and goes to school. He goes home to his parents after school each day. He eats, sleeps, and plays just like any other child. There is one difference. He sees the world in a unique way than most other children not affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The boy’s life and actions are a bit different and can be challenging for him. He needs understanding parents, family members, and teachers. Autism SpectrumRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1444 Words   |  6 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder Dustin S. Staats University of Central Oklahoma â€Å"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) formerly known as just Autism, is a disorder that affects about 1 in 68 children here in the United States.† (Facts about ASD) This is a pretty high prevalence and the number is continuing to rise. â€Å"Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant impairments in behavioral, communication, and social aspects of everyday life.†(Facts about ASD). The intellectual functioning ofRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1369 Words   |  6 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Introduction I don t think people understand how unique children with Autism are or the demands of caring for a child with Autism is. In order to grasp the effect of this disability has on a child or their family it is important to understand the characteristics of a child living with Autism. So for you to understand I will be talking about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism in a childs life. I will be talking about what autism is, the history and descriptionRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1587 Words   |  7 Pages Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorder  (ASD) Purpose: My audience will learn the importance of recognizing early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children. Thesis: It is important to understand the early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and why early intervention is the best treatment. Introduction: Gain/maintain attention There is a television show I like to watch called â€Å"The Big Bang Theory, maybe some of you have seen it. This show focuses on the relationships between a group of friends, someRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) Essay1168 Words   |  5 PagesAutism Spectrum Disorder, as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction (ninds.nih.gov). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a very complex developmental disorder and the term ‘spectrum’ was added to the original term simply known as ‘Autism’ due to the wide range of symptoms associated with the disorderRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1852 Words   |  8 PagesThe following paper is going to cover the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using research and data collected from various authors and journalists the paper will describe the different variations of autism and discuss the impact autism has on a person- in society, at home, in the classroom, and in their careers. Beginning at infancy, autism has a major impact on not just the child but their family’s life as well. The child’s lack of ability to interpret social cues, gestures, and expressionsRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )1801 Words   |  8 PagesAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted, repetitive behavior (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), and is associated with impairments in executive functions. Autism Spectrum Disorder is also defined as a group of disorders that impair an individual’s ability to understand and engage in the give-and-take of social relationships. (Boyd, 2015) Autism is a well-known

Lyme Arthritis Essay Example For Students

Lyme Arthritis Essay Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted inflammatory disordercharacterized by an early focal skin lesion, and subsequently a growingred area on the skin (erythema chronicum migrans or ECM). The disordermay be followed weeks later by neurological, heart or jointabnormalities. SymptomatologyThe first symptom of Lyme disease is a skin lesion. Known aserythema chronicum migrans, or ECM, this usually begins as a reddiscoloration (macule) or as an elevated round spot (papule). The skinlesion usually appears on an extremity or on the trunk, especially thethigh, buttock or the under arm. This spot expands, often with centralclearing, to a diameter as large as 50 cm (c. 12 in.). Approximately25% of patients with Lyme disease report having been bitten at thatsite by a tiny tick 3 to 32 days before onset of ECM. The lesion may bewarm to touch. Soon after onset nearly half the patients developmultiple smaller lesions without hardened centers. ECM generally lastsfor a few weeks. Other types of lesions may subsequently appear duringresolution. Former skin lesions may reappear faintly, sometimes beforerecurrent attacks of arthritis. Lesions of the mucous membranes do notoccur in Lyme disease. The most common symptoms accompanying ECM, or preceding it by afew days, may include malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, headache andstiff neck. Less commonly, backache, muscle aches (myalgias), nausea,vomiting, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, and an enlarged spleen mayalso be present. Most symptoms are characteristically intermittent and changing,but malaise and fatigue may linger for weeks. Arthritis is present in about half of the patients with ECM,occurring within weeks to months following onset and lasting as long as2 years. Early in the illness, migratory inflammation of many joints(polyarthritis) without joint swelling may occur. Later, longerattacks of swelling and pain in several large joints, especially theknees, typically recur for several years. The knees commonly are muchmore swollen than painful; they are often hot, but rarely red. Bakers cysts (a cyst in the knee) may form and rupture. Those symptoms accompanying ECM, especially malaise, fatigue andlow-grade fever, may also precede or accompany recurrent attacks ofarthritis. About 10% of patients develop chronic knee involvement(i.e. unremittent for 6 months or longer). Neurological abnormalities may develop in about 15% of patientswith Lyme disease within weeks to months following onset of ECM, oftenbefore arthritis occurs. These abnormalities commonly last for months,and usually resolve completely. They include:1. lymphocytic meningitis or meningoencephalitis2. jerky involuntary movements (chorea)3. failure of muscle coordination due to dysfunction of thecerebellum (cerebellar ataxia)4. cranial neuritis including Bells palsy (a form of facialparalysis)5. motor and sensory radiculo-neuritis (symmetric weakness, pain,strange sensations in the extremities, usually occurring firstin the legs)6. injury to single nerves causing diminished nerve response(mononeuritis multiplex)7. inflammation of the spinal cord (myelitis). Abnormalities in the heart muscle (myocardium) occur inapproximately 8% of patients with Lyme disease within weeks of ECM. They may include fluctuating degrees of atrioventricular block and,less commonly, inflammation of the heart sack and heart muscle(myopericarditis) with reduced blood volume ejected from the leftventricle and an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly). When Lyme Disease is contracted during pregnancy, the fetus may ormay not be adversely affected, or may contract congenital Lyme Disease. In a study of nineteen pregnant women with Lyme Disease, fourteen hadnormal pregnancies and normal babies. If Lyme Disease is contracted during pregnancy, possible fetalabnormalities and premature birth can occur. EtiologyLyme disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium (BorreliaBurgdorferi) transmitted by a small tick called Ixodes dammini. Thespirochete is probably injected into the victims skin or bloodstreamat the time of the insect bite. After an incubation period of 3 to 32days, the organism migrates outward in the skin, is spread through thelymphatic system or is disseminated by the blood to different bodyorgans or other skin sites. .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .postImageUrl , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:hover , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:visited , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:active { border:0!important; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:active , .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870 .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8bd59f2cc7775aecac57bfad3a826870:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Imported Cars EssayLyme Disease was first described in 1909 in European medicaljournals. The first outbreak in the United States occurred in theearly 1970s in Old lyme, Connecticut. An unusually high incidence ofjuvenile arthritis in the area led scientists to investigate andidentify the disorder. In 1981, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer identified thebacterial spirochete organism (Borrelia Burgdorferi) which causes thisdisorder. Affected PopulationLyme Disease occurs in wooded areas with populations of mice anddeer which carry ticks, and can be contracted during any season of theyear. Related DisordersRheumatoid Arthritis is a disorder similar in appearance to Lymedisease. However, the pain in rheumatoid arthritis is usually morepronounced. Morning stiffness and symmetric joint swelling morecommonly occur in rheumatoid arthritis, and knotty lumps