Get the Facts on Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is on the move, and has been for some time. In fact, about a decade ago, the New York Times identified it as the "nation's fastest-growing infectious disease after AIDS." Today, it remains as one of the top transmittable disease from a parasite to a host.

Lyme disease is an illness resulting from the bite of infected ticks. How is Lyme disease spreading, and are you at risk? What preventative steps can you take to avoid contracting Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is named after the town it was originally identified in. In the mid seventies the town of Lyme, Connecticut identified a cluster of about 50 cases of individuals, mostly children, who began to show symptoms not unlike juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; rashes, headaches, joint pain all set in. Before long, the diagnosis spread to thousands. Lyme disease was born. Its cause? A corkscrew-shaped bacterium living in ticks.

If you live in a wooded area, it may be easy to pick up an infected tick. The tick pierces a person's skin and injects the disease-causing bacterium into the bloodstream. These infected ticks often hitchhike, feed and mate on deer. Because of the close proximity deer have to rural and even suburban areas, the incidents of Lyme disease have been steadily rising.

The signs if Lyme disease are many, and its rate of onset depends on the stage of infection. The first symptom of Lyme disease is generally a skin rash that starts as a small red spot. Other signs of an early infection include muscle and joint aches, headaches, a stiff neck, significant fatigue or fever. These symptoms may be joined by facial paralysis, meningitis and or brief episodes of joint pain and swelling.

Though less common, the disease may also affect the nervous system and cause heart problems. Someone with a combination of these symptoms should immediately check their skin for a tell tale skin rash. What started as a normal rash will expand into a circular, triangular, or oval-shaped rash that may be the size of a dime or larger.

Because of its multitude of symptoms, many of which on their own rarely cause alarm, Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose. Some individuals do not develop a rash, others may show symptoms but they are passed over because of their flu-like nature. And because the bite of the tick is usually painless, it may not be until the more serious indicators occur that the disease is properly identified.

If diagnosis is made in time, most individuals with Lyme disease can simply be treated with antibiotics, with a resulting prognosis of a high recovery rate. Obviously, the sooner the treatment begins, the quicker and fuller the recovery will be. For several months after the treatment, some of the more common symptoms, such as fatigue and achiness, may yet persist, but these symptoms will decrease in time without the need of further antibiotic therapy.

What kind of preventative measures can be taken against Lyme disease?

If you're hiking or walking through wooded areas that may contain ticks, it's best to stay in the center of trails. Ticks cling to short underbrush and will jump onto your skin or clothing as you pass by, in much the same way as a flea. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and hats. If you can, seal entry to your lower leg (a tick favorite) by tucking your pant legs into your socks or boots, and wear shoes that leave no part of the feet exposed. Wearing light colored clothing is also recommended because it makes it easier to detect ticks. Insect repellents applied to clothing and skin will also help prevent a tick bite.

Once you're back inside, get in the habit of running a routine check on yourself and your children for ticks. Take your time and look carefully. A smaller tick is about the size of the period that ends this sentence. And if you have pets that regularly are outdoors, they must be checked as well before they enter the house. A flea and tick repellent should be used on your pet to prevent possible bites.

How do you remove a tick? Burning it off is never recommended. And you shouldn't try to yank it out with your bare fingers; chances are that remnants of the tick will remain. Use tweezers and tug gently but firmly near the head of the tick until it releases its hold on the skin. Be careful not to squeeze too hard because you will detach the body from the head, leaving an even smaller part of the tick in your skin. After the tick is out, swab the bite area thoroughly with an antiseptic. Removing an infectious tick within 24 hours may help prevent a Lyme disease infection.

The chance of suffering from a crippling bout of Lyme disease is small. Using some simple precautions will make that chance even smaller, and the safeguards are well worth taking compared to contracting Lyme disease.