Lymes Disease
Thoughts about Ticks
These early fall days are a perfect time for hikes in the parks and woods. Before you go –- some thoughts about the bugs living in the forest. Many people worry most about ticks and Lyme disease.
So, how much should you worry? If you live on the Pacific coast, not too much. Lyme disease is most commonly found in the northeastern United States. It is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted by the deer tick, called Ixodes scapularis. On the West Coast, the tick is the Ixodes pacificus.
The bacteria can only be transmitted from the tick to a human after it has been attached and feeding for two to three days and mainly by a tick in its immature or nymphal stage. This is usually in the spring to early fall months, about May to August.
If you see a tick and remove it soon, you are very unlikely to get infected. Again, it has to be the right tick and it has to be on you for enough time. Most people who get Lyme disease never remember getting a tick bite, but may have been in an area for a period of time where infected ticks live (again, happens more commonly in the Northeast US).
What can you do to protect yourself? Wear long sleeves and longs pants that you tuck into your socks. You can also use bug repellent. The most effective are the ones with DEET. Be sure to check with your parents about how to use this safely. And most important -- after you get out of the "tick area" -- do a whole body check for ticks. Especially important to check are the hair and ears, as sometimes you can miss something there.
If you do find a tick -- don't worry! Have an adult remove it with fine-tipped tweezers. If you think the head is still attached, just use some disinfectant such as rubbing alcohol to remove it. The actual tick bite can cause an initial red rash, which will go away, and doesn't have anything to do with Lyme disease. If you feel sick and get a rash about seven to ten days later, then you should talk to your doctor. Identifying the tick and getting blood tests usually isn't helpful.
Remember prevention is the key -- and not getting freaked out! If you have questions, you should talk with your doctor.
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