Topics: Wellness
Hello, there!
It’s been a while since I have posted here, and it’s time I get back in the habit. During May, I took a short vacation, and it’s been a challenge to think about Metro and water in the basement instead of sand and sea. I guess that’s why so many of us buy an occasional lottery ticket.
The weather in D.C. has really been lovely, though, and the trees, flowers and grasses are in full bloom. Lots of folks are walking their dogs, strolling through the parks, and playing sports in the fields. All of this creates a climate of joy and happiness—especially for ticks.
That leads me to today’s topic, which is Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1427.htm), and is carried by blacklegged ticks. These ticks are tiny and very hard to see. They are common in Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine, in North-central states, mostly in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in California, particularly northern California. But, since one of the primary carriers for ticks is your friendly pet, and since lots of people travel with their pets—especially dogs—ticks can be found in other areas of the country, too. So if you live or find yourself in areas where ticks are not the most common, it doesn’t mean they can’t be there.
Ticks pick up the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected, and then they can carry the infection to humans. A great site for learning about the symptoms, signs and tests for Lyme disease can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002296/. Lyme Disease was first reported in the U.S. in 1975 in the town of Old Lyme, CT. There were lots of ticks around before 1975, though. I grew up in Rhode Island, and, as a child back in the 50’s, I spent many happy summer days staying at a cottage at the beach. There were ticks everywhere, and every night my mom would do a tick check of our heads and bodies—and lots of times the little buggers were embedded. The old trick was to touch them with the tip of a hot match (no flame) and they would back out. It’s a wonder we lived to tell the tale.
One of my colleagues here at NEA HIN, Jennie Young, was bitten by a tick a couple of years ago and developed Lyme disease. She never developed the typical “bulls eye” around the bitten area, but she experienced fevers and fatigue and wisely saw her physician to see what was going on. A blood test indicated Lyme disease, and a course of antibiotics cleared it up in a few weeks. It is really important to seek medical advice if you start to experience unusual symptoms such as muscle pain, stiff neck, fever, chills, and fatigue—a list of symptoms and other important information about Lyme disease can be found both at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website previously listed and at http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/.
If Lyme disease is treated promptly, it can be cured with antibiotics. If left untreated, however, it can lead to long-term joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis), heart rhythm problems, and brain and nervous system problems. So, especially during these months where we spend a lot of time outdoors, be aware and follow the following NIH tips to prevent the onset of the disease:
- Whenever possible, avoid wooded or bushy areas or areas with high grasses and leaf litter.
- Walk in the center of trails.
- Check yourself frequently during and after your walk or hike.
- When walking or hiking in wooded or grassy areas, consider spraying your exposed skin and clothing with insect repellent. There is good information about bug repellent safety at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002688/.
None of this is meant to be frightening or to deter you from having a wonderful summer. Lyme disease can be prevented if you take simple and regular precautions, and it can be easily treated if you find evidence that you have been bitten by a tick carrying the disease and seek prompt medical attention.
However, please do stay away from the hot match solution. It stings.
I’ll be back again soon.
Bette