We are in the middle of the peak months for the risk of Lyme disease so it is a good time for a reminder alerting us to the presence of ticks and the possibility of infection. June, July, and August are the months with the highest incidence of Lyme disease. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 1,819 diagnosed cases which is a significant increase over reported cases in 2006 when there were 1,456 cases. Although most of the cases were in the northwest and west central regions of the state, it has been reported in many other areas. Many people vacation all over the state and everyone should be on the lookout for ticks that can cause Lyme disease.
Anyone can get Lyme disease which is caused by bacteria that is carried by small (blacklegged) deer ticks and transmitted to humans by a tick bite. The tick must be attached to a person's skin for at least 24 hours before it can transmit the bacteria. This is why it is so important to check for ticks after you have been in a wooded area. If an attached tick is removed promptly, there is a greatly reduced chance for disease. There was a vaccine against Lyme disease but it is no longer marketed because there was little demand for it.
As with all disease, prevention is best whenever possible. There are many things you can do to prevent tick bites:
-
Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter. If you are hiking in an area like this, try to stay in the middle of the trail.
-
Wear clothes that will help shield you from ticks -- long-sleeved shirt, long pants tucked into socks to creat a "tick-barrier". Ticks are easier to spot on light colored clothing.
-
Use effective tick repellents (containing 20-30% DEET) on exposed skin and clothing. Repellents containing permethrin can also be used on clothing.
-
Perform daily tick checks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Carefully inspect all parts of your body including armpits, scalp, and groin.
-
Remove an attached tick immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull upward and out with a firm steady tension. Be careful not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick as it may contain infectious fluids. Do not use folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or burning matches as these methods are neither safe nor effective.
Lyme disease can cause symptoms that affect the skin, nervous system, heart, and/or joints. Early symptoms usually begin within a month of exposure. Later arthritic, cardiac, and neurologic problems can take weeks or months to appear. The illness often (but not always) starts with a circular, reddish rash around the site of the bite. During the rash stage, fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, muscle and/or joint pain may occur and last several weeks. If left untreated, complications such as meningitis, facial palsy, heart abnormalities, and arthritis may occur.
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Past infection provides only short-lived immunity and it is possible to get infected more than once.
Check out these websites for more information about Lyme disease:
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/LymeDisease/links.htm http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm
