I think everyone should learn as much as possible about this disease and share it with others so people can be aware and know what to do to protect themselves.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks (Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus) also known as deer ticks, and on the West Coast, black-legged ticks. "Wood ticks" and "dog ticks" (Dermacentor variabilis and Dermacentor andersoni) do not carry the infection.
Deer ticks can sometimes be confused with other tick species, but generally are smaller than most ticks. Unfed adult female blacklegged ticks are approximately 3 – 5 millimeters (mm) long, are colored red and brown with a darker scutum shield on their back. Female ticks that are engorged with a blood meal appear darker and are about 10 mm long. The uniformly brown adult male tick is smaller than its female counterpart. Nymphs are between 1-2 mm long (about pin-head sized) with eight legs and larvae are less than 1 mm long (about poppy seed sized) and have only six legs. Deer tick adults are about half as large as the wood ticks.
Habitat of the deer ticks?
Their preferred habitat is shaded grassy and brushy areas frequented by both small and large mammals, dogs, cats and other warm-blooded hosts. As these hosts brush against the grass, deer ticks cling to the coat of the animal and begin to feed. Because the ticks usually bite a different host for their subsequent blood meals, infected ticks are capable of spreading Lyme disease quickly throughout a population. Their bites are not painful, and most victims do not notice them until they have become engorged from prolonged feeding and may have transmitted the Lyme disease organism. Unlike Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes pacificus nymphs do not climb onto low vegetation and wait for a passing host. Instead, they live within litter on the forest floor, climb onto logs and the lower portions of tree trunks up to a height of about 3 – 4 feet to await a passing host.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the US every year. However, because diagnosing Lyme can be difficult, many people who actually have Lyme may be misdiagnosed with other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and various psychiatric illnesses, like depression. Misdiagnoses with these other diseases may delay the correct treatment as the underlying infection progresses unchecked. Many experts believe the true number of cases is much higher.
Lyme disease can affect people of all ages, although the CDC notes that it is most common in children, older adults, and others such as firefighters and park rangers who spend time in outdoor activities and have higher exposure to ticks.
What are the symptoms?
LymeDisease.org has a Lyme disease symptom checklist to help you record your exposure to Lyme disease and common symptoms. After filling in the necessary information you get a report that you can print out and show it to your doctor.
Dr. Joseph Burrascano who is known as a pioneer in treating chronic Lyme disease has created a list of all the possible symptoms.
Where does Lyme Disease occur?
Lyme disease occurs regularly in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
1. Avoid tick habitat as much as possible. Ticks are usually near the ground or in leaf litter, grasses, bushes and fallen logs. Gathering firewood, leaning against tree trunks or playing in leaves are high risk activities. If you go hiking, you should stay on cleared paths.
2. Dress appropriately in order to protect yourself: Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves. Tie back long hair and wear a hat. You can wear light-colored clothing, so any tick could be spotted easily. Also, there is an option to buy clothing that has been pre-treated with the repellent permethrin at outdoor recreation stores. The protection lasts through 70 washings. You can also purchase permethrin yourself and spray clothing. It lasts 5-6 washings. Spray the inside and outside of clothes. Spraying footwear with permethrin will prevent ticks from crawling up your shoes.
3. Use repellent on exposed skin: Repellents with DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil are the most effective.
4. Check for ticks often. When outdoors, inspect your clothing and skin for ticks. Brush off those that aren't attached and remove any that are.
5. Shower immediately after spending time outdoors: Feel for bumps that might be embedded ticks. Pay careful attention to hidden places, including groin, armpits, back of knees, belly button and scalp. Parents should check their children. Also check your clothes again. Running your clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes before you wash them will kill any ticks that may be there.
6. Protect your pets: Ticks can infect dogs and cats, too. Also, ticks can get on their fur and they can carry them inside your home. Consult with your veterinarian about tick-protection for your pets.
For more information, like how is Lyme diagnosed, what are the available treatments or prevention methods like vaccines, visit: https://www.lymedisease.org/. Also LymeDisease.org has a Facebook page, Twitter and Youtube.
