Lyme Disease Awareness
Month is a campaign which promotes preventative measures which can be taken
against Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is an acute
inflammatory disease caused by the bite of a tick infected with the bacteria,
Borrelia burgdorferi; Lyme disease is spread through the bite of ticks which
carry Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium.
In the United States there
are two main species of tick which carry and spread Lyme disease. The deer tick
or black legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the north
central and eastern parts of the United States.
The western black legged
tick (Ixodes pacifus) spreads Lyme disease on the west (Pacific) coast. Both
species of ticks are found in wooded areas. The life cycle of the Ixodes tick
is complex.
Symptoms:
There are two types of
symptoms of Lyme Disease: first and late symptoms. First symptoms are usually
flu-like and include fatigue, tiredness, joint and muscle pain, and also a
characteristic rash. Late symptoms can take much longer to develop: weeks,
months or even years. Late symptoms may include fatigue, mental health issues,
the condition arthritis and chronic encephalomyeltits.
Chronic encephalomyeltits
is a progressive condition (symptoms become worse or more widespread), and
include back pain, bladder problems, vertigo and weakness in the legs. Late
Lyme disease can also cause brain, joint, and heart infection.
The Need For This Awareness Month:
In the United States over
the last few years, there has been a steady increase in the number of reported
cases of Lyme disease. Lyme Disease Awareness Month educates both the young and
old about Lyme Disease and how they can take steps to prevent it.
As both types of ticks
which carry the Lyme disease virus live in wooded areas, people who visit these
areas are encouraged to wear protective clothing around the ankles.
White or light clothing is
recommended as it is easier to spot any ticks. Shirts and T-shirts should be
tucked into your pants (trousers), and socks pulled up over the bottom of the
pants. Using an insect repellent can also help prevent the ticks from getting
on to you. Pets should also be checked. Before returning inside it is
recommended to do a tick check first.
Tick Removal Lowers The Risk Of Lyme Disease:
Carrying a tick removal kit
is advised as they can be used to effectively remove ticks from body reducing
the risk of disease transmission. Often the disease is transmitted when a tick
is not removed properly. We carry these
in the camp store.
The body breaks away with
the head still buried in the skin; this causes the tick to regurgitate its
contents into the person’s body.
'Do It Yourself' tick kits
should include an insect repellant, a tick removal, an antiseptic and small
vial.
Using the removal tool, remove
the tick with the tool, hooking the tick as close to the skin as possible. A
gentle twisting action is recommended by the Lyme Disease Foundation to remove
the tick, and all the tick’s mouth pieces as thoroughly as possible. By placing
the tick in a vial with a blade of grass, the tick can be kept alive for
testing. Take it and seek immediate
medical attention. In tick prone areas,
emergency room or urgent care centers may prescribe a 10 day dose of
antibiotics as a preventive medicine without testing the tick.
Remember, ticks can happen
anywhere in the US. You can get a tick
from any outdoor activity like hunting, hiking, gardening, mowing, etc. What you may not know is that you can also
get Lyme disease from your pet, Christmas tree, picking strawberries.
Make sure you know how to
protect yourself and your family. Buy
and routinely wear tick repellent. Practice
good hygiene practices and bath or shower thoroughly after being outside, and
checking yourself and family members for ticks.
This
article was reprinted from Lyme Disease Foundation Page. You can get more information at:
http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/lymediseaseawarenessmonth.html
