Tiny Ticks, Big Illness – Understanding Lyme Disease

Lyme disease. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have heard about this illness. Caused by the tiny insect called a tick, this illness creates severe health effects such as skin, nervous system, heart, and joint problems. Although present across the nation, the disease occurs most frequently in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts. One statistic from the New York State Department of Health shows the enormity of the problem: over 77,000 cases have been reported in that state since Lyme disease became reportable in 1986.

What Causes Lyme Disease?
The bite of a tiny insect called a tick transmits Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control explains that “…the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, normally lives in mice, squirrels and other small animals. It is transmitted among these animals – and to humans – through the bites of certain species of ticks. In the northeastern and north-central United States, the black-legged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) transmits Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal United States, the disease is spread by the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Other major tick species found in the United States have not been shown to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi.”

What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Symptoms of Lyme disease may occur anywhere from three to thirty days after being bitten by a tick. One of the first symptoms of Lyme disease is a circular rash around the tick bite. Over the course of several days, the rash can spread as large as 12 inches and develop a bulls eye-like appearance. Those infected can also have flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, patients may develop shooting pains, numbness on the face, arthritis, and host of other unpleasant symptoms. A unique characteristic about this disease is that not all patients will have the exact same symptoms.

What are the Treatments for Lyme Disease?
In most cases, antibiotics can treat the illness. Some patients, however, may have recurring symptoms.

How Can I Avoid Becoming Infected?

1. Stay away from areas where ticks are known to frequent, including areas with thick grasses, dense brush, and lots of leafy material.
2. Check your skin and clothes for ticks each time you return home from a walk in the woods or when working in the yard.
3. Take extra care during the months of June, July, and August when ticks are most active.
4. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and socks when in tick infested areas. Light colored clothing may also help you spot ticks.
5. Use an insect repellent.

I Found A Tick! How Do I Remove It?
Grasp the mouthparts with tweezers as close as possible to the skin. Be careful not to squeeze or crush the body of the tick. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite site with disinfectant and/or soap and water. You may wish to call a doctor if you have concerns about tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit matches, or other home remedies (Courtesy of New York State Department of Health).

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