Nature flourishes in the month of May. Leaves fill trees, the flowers bloom, the grass grows green, and wildlife thrives. Of course we want to get outside with our families and stretch our legs, soak in the sunshine, and enjoy our outdoor spaces! As nature awakes, though, it’s important to protect ourselves, children, and pets from dangers to our health that can hide in nature’s abundance. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and the Tuscarawas County Health Department wants to help you prevent this growing health threat.
This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
According to the CDC, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well.
Prevention
We can prevent lyme disease exposure for ourselves and our pets by following these tips from the TCHD:
- Avoid direct contact with ticks
- Avoid wooded or bushy areas with high grass
- Walk in the center of trails
- Repel Ticks:Use repellents that contain 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing for several hours of protection.
- Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors
- Conduct a full body check Examine gear and petsTumble dry clothes in dryer on high heat for an hour to kill ticks
Extra Guidance for Pets from the TCHD
Remember: Dogs are susceptible to tick bites and tick borne disease. Signs of tick-borne disease may not appear for 7 to 21 days or longer after the bite. To reduce the chances that ticks will transmit disease to you or your pets:
- Check your pets daily for ticks
- If you find a tick remove it right away
- Ask your vet to conduct a tick check at each exam
- Talk to your vet about using a tick preventative
Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease
The CDC urges you to seek medical attention if you observe any of these symptoms and have had a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme disease, or have recently traveled to an area where Lyme disease occurs.
Early Signs and Symtoms of Lyme Disease Include:
- Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes may occur in the absence of rash
- Erythema migrans (EM) rash (see photos):
- Occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons
- Begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days (average is about 7 days)
- Expands gradually over several days reaching up to 12 inches or more (30 cm) across
- May feel warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful
- Sometimes clears as it enlarges, resulting in a target or “bull’s-eye” appearance
- May appear on any area of the body
- Does not always appear as a “classic” erythema migrans rash
For more information on Lyme Disease Prevention and Protection, visit www.tchdnow.org/ticks
