Protect yourself from Lyme disease
It’s not just Ontarians that are enjoying the waning days of summer, but also ticks. Ticks are small eight-legged parasites with oval flat bodies. Like mosquitoes, they bite humans to feed on blood.
Lyme disease is caused by blacklegged ticks that are infected with a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. These infected ticks bite people in the groin, armpits, or hair, and transmit the bacterium to our bodies, where it grows and makes us feel sick. The ticks can remain attached to the body up to 10 days. Lyme disease is not contagious. Any physical contact between a person with Lyme disease will not cause the disease.
Individuals at risk of tick bites includes those who participate in outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, golfing, and gardening.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include a bull’s-eye rash (red round patch that grows outwards), stiff neck, muscle aches, fatigue, and facial paralysis. Symptoms can appear three to 30 days after the tick bite. If untreated, Lyme disease can cause paralysis, arthritis, and neurological symptoms.
Preventing tick bites is one of the best ways to avoid Lyme disease and tips to do so include:
1. Using insect repellent, such as DEET and icaridin, which can be applied to the skin and clothing
2. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants if doing any outdoor activities
3. Trimming any tree branches and bushes on your property to allow more sunlight exposure, as ticks tend to avoid hot areas
4. Drying your clothes in the hot cycle for at least 10 minutes before washing them
Now let’s say you went camping and found afterwards that a tick has bitten you. Using a tweezer, grasp the tick as close to your skin and gently pull out the tick. Be sure not to squeeze the tick or twist the tweezers as you pull out. Afterwards, remove any parts of the tick, such as its mouth or head, that are still attached on the bite site. Soap and water can be used to clean the infected area. Ensure that all parts of the tick are placed in a secure container and contact your local public health unit to dispose of it.
Antibiotics, such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime axetil, can prevent and treat Lyme disease. For prevention, a single dose of doxycycline can be given within 72 hours of the blacklegged tick removal.
For treatment, doctors may prescribe doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil, based on the patient’s condition.
The course of therapy can range from 10 to 28 days. It is recommended that patients take these antibiotics with food to prevent stomach upset. Common side effects also include nausea and diarrhea. Note that doxycycline should not be given to pregnant individuals, as it can cause tooth discoloration and affect bone formation in the fetus. Contact your health-care provider to discuss what medication is best for you.
Full article here.
