With the fall season nearly upon us, the crisp, cooler weather provides a great time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. However, wooded areas are prime spots for ticks to thrive. Dr. Raghavendra Tirupathi Govindaraju, Medical Director of Keystone Infectious Diseases, shares some important information about Lyme disease and how you can help to keep you and your family safe.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an infection most commonly caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. In the United States, people are more likely to be infected during the summer and fall months. Pennsylvania is one of the states where the disease is most prevalent.
How does someone get Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is spread to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks). In order for a tick to transmit the infection to humans, it needs to be attached to a person’s body for at least 24 hours. Ticks attach to a person or animal by crawling; they cannot fly or jump. They can attach to any body part, but are more commonly found in areas such as the scalp, groin, and armpits.
What are the initial symptoms?
Typical early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a bullseye-like skin rash called erythema migrans. This rash can appear 7 to 30 days after the tick bite and can reach a size of up to 12 inches or larger. The rash is rarely itchy or painful.
What are the long-term effects?
If left untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. It can cause additional rashes on other areas of the body, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, facial paralysis, nerve pain, joint pain, heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat, and swelling — particularly in the knees and other large joints.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
Lyme disease is diagnosed by a physician based on a person’s signs and symptoms, and history of possible or known exposure to infected blacklegged ticks. Laboratory blood tests can also be helpful in some cases.
How is it treated?
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Patients with certain neurological or cardiac illnesses may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin.
How can people protect themselves against Lyme disease?
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is by preventing tick bites. Avoid wooded and brushy areas as much as possible. If you are planning to spend time outdoors, use a tick repellent that contains 20% or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin. This protection lasts several hours. When hiking, stay in the middle of trails and try to keep away from leaf piles, tall grass and brush. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off any ticks that could be crawling on you.
Check your entire body for ticks after being in areas where they are common. While ticks are most often found in wooded, grassy or brushy places, they may also be present in gardens or lawns. Keep in mind that ticks can also attach to animals and be brought into houses by pets. Tick control products may be helpful in reducing the chances of your pet carrying ticks. Taking proper precautions can greatly reduce a person’s chance of being infected with Lyme disease.
This article contains general information only and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment or care by a qualified health care provider.
