Knowledge on Lyme disease among foresters.

OBJECTIVES

The first aim was an attempt to evaluate the level of knowledge on Lyme disease among people whose profession involves working in the forest; the second--recognition of the health problems that should be included in health education programmes concerning Lyme disease in this group of professionals.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study was performed on 159 subjects.

RESULTS

Only 15% know the etiological factor of disease, 98%--the main cause of infection, and route of pathogen transmission.

CONCLUSION

Propagation of knowledge on Lyme disease, particularly among risk group people, is not satisfactory. Little knowledge on tick risk among secondary school students indicate the necessity for cooperation between teachers, epidemiologists, and health service providers in order to propagate the knowledge on parasites, symptoms, spread and methods of prevention.