Lyme disease
Not too long ago, Lyme disease was in the news quite a bit, but now you don’t hear too much about it. Unfortunately, that’s not good because Lyme disease is still present and causing problems for the people who become infected.
The long-lasting effects of untreated Lyme disease include chronic pain in the joints and muscles, as well as nerve problems. It can become debilitating and can even cause death. So, the best thing is to know how to prevent it and what to watch for.
What causes Lyme disease?
A tick like this spreads the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes the disease. In the United States, Lyme disease is most common in rural and suburban areas in the northeastern and midwestern states. It is also found in other parts of the United States, as well as in Europe, Asia and Australia.
Symptoms of Lyme disease:
Lyme disease symptoms can take up to a month to appear - that’s why it is very important to check for ticks every time you are in a situation where you could be bitten. The symptoms include:
- A skin rash, often resembling a bulls-eye
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Stiff neck
- Swelling of knees and other large joints
Treatment for Lyme disease:
Right now, the only treatment is antibiotics, the sooner the better. The problem is that treatment is hit and miss a lot of the time because many people don’t recognize the the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, so diagnosis is delayed.
Prevention:
Prevention of Lyme disease seems simple: avoid being bitten by a tick. It’s not as easy as it seems though if your work or hobbies take you into places that have high populations of ticks. In other words, if you can’t avoid the areas where the risk is highest, you’ll have to take some precautions. According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation, these include:
- Wear enclosed shoes and light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily
- Scan clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors
- Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails
- Use insect repellant containing DEET on skin or clothes if you intend to go off-trail or into overgrown areas
- Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls (havens for ticks and their hosts)
- Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening
- Do a final, full-body tick-check at the end of the day (also check children and pets)
If you still find a tick after these precautions, the American Lyme Disease Foundation explains how to remove a tick safely.
Lyme disease should be taken seriously. The symptoms listed above are considered the “first stage” of Lyme disease. The second stage include:
- Numbness
- Pain
- Weakness
- Bell’s palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles)
- Visual disturbances
- Meningitis symptoms (fever, stiff neck, severe headache)
These symptoms can be followed weeks, months, or even years later:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Memory loss
- Sleep disorders
- Nerve damage in the arms and legs
To learn more about Lyme disease, you can visit these sites:
Image: Newscom
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