Tick-Borne Infections—A Growing Public Health Threat to School-Age Children

Abstract

School nurses are experts in school health services and frequently front-line providers of care for school-age children presenting with symptoms of physical illness or behavioral, cognitive, learning, and/or psychological problems possibly due to tick-borne infections. School nurses need to know how to protect children on school property and during school sponsored outdoor activities from being bitten by ticks that can transmit diseases. Since infection prevention is a primary objective in health care, this article will empower school nurses with key information about how to accomplish this goal.

Keywords

risk behavior behavioral problems infection prevention immunizations/infectious diseases role of the school nurse National Association of School Nurses

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