prevention, Recognizing and treating Lyme disease
The warm weather presents more opportunities for activities outdoor such as hiking, biking and picnicking. When planning your next outing, keep in mind that during the summer months, you're more likely to come into contact with ticks and other biting insects; most cases of Lyme disease are reported during the months of June, July and August.
Clear brush and leaves where ticks commonly live and stacking woodpiles in dry, sunny areas of the ground.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted mainly by the bites of deer ticks. Ticks join anywhere on the body but prefer body folds such as the armpits, groin, and back of the knee. The bacteria circulating in the blood, binds in various tissues of the body, and can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are serious
Prevention :.
- Clear brush and leaves where ticks commonly live. Stack woodpiles in dry, sunny areas of the ground. Treat the environment and your pets with products specifically designed for the prevention of ticks.
- Wear long pants tucked into socks, long sleeves, closed shoes, hat and gloves. Tie back long hair. Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls. Apply repellent with a concentration of 10 to 30 percent DEET.
- Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks, especially after walking through tall grass or wooded areas. Shower as soon as you get inside. Deer ticks are often no bigger than the head of a pin. Put clothes in the dryer for 20 minutes to kill any unseen ticks
The symptoms of Lyme disease include :.
- The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash with the appearance of the eyes of a bull. This rash occurs in about 80-0 percent of those infected and begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days and gradually develops.
- The general symptoms include fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle / joint pain and swollen lymph nodes.
- vision changes, difficulty breathing, kidney problems, gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disorders, seizures, behavioral changes, involvement of the cranial nerves and psychiatric manifestations some of other symptoms that were reported.
- If untreated or not diagnosed, the infection can spread causing paralysis, severe headache Bell, a stiff neck, heart palpitations, pains shooting, and dizziness. After several months, about 60 percent of patients with untreated infection can begin to have intermittent episodes of arthritis. Up to five percent may develop chronic neurological complaints months to years after infection
Treatment :.
- When a tick bites, it is fixed firmly to the skin. To remove, grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible with tweezers or a tick removal tool. Pull up with a slow and constant movement. Disinfect the bite site and tongs after removal. If parts of the tick remains in the skin, seek medical attention.
- Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with oral antibiotics, especially if treatment is started early. If the disease has progressed, your doctor may recommend treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
- After the treatment, a small percentage of people may experience symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue. The cause of these ongoing symptoms is unknown, but a prolonged antibiotic treatment does not make them disappear
Sources :. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Safety and Health Institute, the Mayo Clinic Foundation American Lyme disease, and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals. For medical advice, consult your doctor.
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