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Approximately 17,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention each year.Flulike symptoms, aching joints, and a distinctive rash are some of the symptoms of Lyme disease.Lyme disease can affect people of all ages.It is typically carried by deer ticks that live in the low bushes and tall grasses of wooded areas and are most abundant in the spring, summer and fall months.Few people are bitten by deer ticks during winter months.
AVOIDANCE OF TICKS
The best way to avoid Lyme disease is to avoid deer ticks.You have to be bitten by an infected tick to contract Lyme disease.Only a small percentage of people who are bitten by a deer tick actually get Lyme disease.You should always take proper precautions in areas where ticks live.Because adult ticks feed on deer, areas where deer are frequently seen are likely to have sizable numbers of deer ticks.To help prevent tick bites:
- Avoid tick infested areas
- Walk in the center of trails to avoid picking up ticks from overhanging grass and brush
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts that fit tightly at the ankles and wrists
- Wear a hat
- Wear shoes that leave no part of the feet exposed
- Wear light colored clothing to make it easy to detect ticks
- Use insect repellant which often repels ticks
CHECKING FOR TICKS
You should check yourself and your children for ticks carefully as ticks can be as small as the size of a poppy seed or the head of a pin. They are so small that they can easily be mistaken for a freckle or a speck of dirt. You may not see or feel them unless you are looking carefully. Pets should also be checked for ticks before entering the house as they, too, can develop symptoms of Lyme disease. These ticks could easily fall off without biting the animal and subsequently attach themselves to and bite people inside the house.
REMOVING TICKS
If a tick is discovered attached to the skin:
- Pull gently but firmly with tweezers by grasping it near its head or mouth, taking care not to squeeze the tick's body to lessen the chance of contact with the bacteria
- Once you have the entire tick removed, apply antiseptic to the bite area to prevent bacterial infection
Studies by the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggest that a tick must be attached for at least 48 hours to transmit the Lyme disease, so prompt tick removal could prevent the disease.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
If you're bitten and the tick stays attached to your skin for approximately 36 to 48 hours, bacteria can travel from the tick's gut to your bloodstream.These bacteria soon migrate to parts of the body where they later produce symptoms of Lyme disease.
As the disease progresses, signs and symptoms of Lyme disease tend to progress.Not everyone who contracts Lyme disease will show all of the symptoms.Some common symptoms of Lyme disease include:
- Rash with a small, white, hard lump at the center
- Flulike Symptoms which include fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, and a headache within 30 days of being bitten
- Sharp Joint Painmight appear for a few days in any joint, then disappear and reappear in another joint
- Memory Loss, Difficulty Concentrating, and Changes in Mood or Sleep Habits which might indicate symptoms of later stages of lyme disease
WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
Only a minority of tick bites can lead to Lyme disease.If you know that you've been bitten and you are experiencing symptoms, you should contact your physician immediately.Treatment for Lyme disease is most effective if begun early.
COMPLICATIONS
Symptoms of Lyme disease may disappear, but that does not mean that the disease is gone.If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can spread to the rest of your body within 6 months causing arthritis and nervous system problems.
TREATMENT
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for Lyme disease in its early stages.Antibiotics usually cure the infection and prevent complications caused by Lyme disease.Hospitalization may be necessary in some cases if the disease has progressed to a later stage.
Increased awareness and prevention methods are key to helping keep the number of Lyme disease cases to a minimum.
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