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Preventing Tick-Borne Illness
Lyme and other tick-borne infections continue to pose a substantial health risk for people who live, work and play in the outdoors. HGE is another debilitating and potentially fatal tick-borne infection. Confirmed cases of Babe siosis, a malaria-like illness caused by a tick-borne protozoan, has increased in coastal areas of the eastern United States. Also Rocky Mountain spotted fever continues to pose a health risk across much of the United States. Lyme disease has been confirmed in all but a handful of states, yet 90 percent of the cases still occur along the eastern sea board from Maryland north through Pennsylvania and New York to Vermont. The upper Midwest, especially Wisconsin and Minnesota, also sees a disproportionately high incidence of Lyme disease. So far, only the deer tick and the black- legged tick are known to spread Lyme disease in the East. The western black-legged tick is responsible for most of the Lyme disease in Pacific Coast states. These tick species are quite small, especially in the spring and summer when their nymphal stages may appear no larger than the head of a pin. Other tick species can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease but do not appear to transmit it to humans. The larger, more common dog tick or wood tick does not spread Lyme disease, but its bite can spread other infections. The first step toward reducing your risk of contracting a tick-borne disease is to decrease your risk of being bitten by a tick. Around the home, this means keeping weeds cut back and leaves raked. The tiny, nymphal stage of the deer tick poses the biggest threat of Lyme disease, and it thrives in damp, leafy ground cover. If you live in a problem area, you may want to apply a chemical insecticide to your property. In some areas of the Northeast, half of the adult deer ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. When you go out to the woods or fields, avoid areas with heavy tick infestation. Wear light-colored clothing so you will be able to see any ticks and remove them before they bite. The insecticide Permethrin can keep ticks off shoes and clothing, but it should not be applied directly to skin. Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to skin. Tuck long pant cuffs into socks. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and tuck the tail into your pants. Wear a hat and tuck in long hair. All tick species climb clothing, looking for an opening to unprotected skin. Deny the opening and you prevent the bite. After each outing, shower then care fully inspect yourself. Ticks may attach anywhere, especially in the groin area, be hind the knee, in the armpit, or on the back of the neck. Deer ticks and black-legged ticks are small and easily missed. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for the bacteria to cross over from an attached tick to a human. Even after an infected tick has become attached, prompt removal still may prevent Lyme disease. To remove an attached tick, grasp it as closely to the skin as possible with tweezers or forceps, then slowly pull it straight out. The mouth parts may break off in your skin, but these cannot cause Lyme disease. After removing the tick, apply an antiseptic such as alcohol or an antibacterial ointment to the bite. Never squeeze, pinch, heat or do anything else to an attached tick as this may cause it to inject infected fluid into you through the bite. Know which ticks and diseases are most likely in your area, and watch for the early symptoms of illness. All of the tick- borne infections respond to medical treatment, and early treatment offers the best chance for a full recovery. The first symptom of Lyme disease is usually a reddish rash that may appear as a blotch or a central spot of clear skin ringed with rash (looks like a bull’s eye). Within the first week, these rashes are usually 2.5 inches across. If left untreated, the rash may expand to 6 to 8 inches within two to four weeks. Rashes may occur anywhere on the body, not just at the site of the bite. The rash may be warm to the touch but usually does not itch or burn. More severe symptoms occur weeks, months or even years later. These include headache, arthritis, severe nervous system problems or heart abnormalities. If not treated, Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections may develop into disabling or even fatal conditions.
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