Lyme Disease Awareness

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Now that school is out for most kids across the country, families are making the trek to the great outdoors to soak up some fun and sun. Camping and hiking top may family's lists for their summer vacations. However, with these activities comes the risk of being exposed to insects that can make us sick. One such illness is Lyme disease.

If you think you are immune from this disease, think again. Bart Yasso,Chief Running Officer for Runner’s World Magazine and a renowned long distance runner, describes in great detail in his book My Life on the Run: The Wit, Wisdom, and Insights of a Road Racing Icon of his own battle with this disease that nearly ended his running career.

So what exactly is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness spread to humans from the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. They generally feed off the blood of small animals such as squirrels and mice, but they can feed off cats, dogs and even humans. The ticks are found in wooded and grassy areas, but because they are so small, about the size of a pin head, they can be quite difficult to see.

The northeast region of the country appears to have the highest incidence of Lyme disease when compared to other areas of the country. Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have some of the highest reported cases. But do not let your guard down should you experience any of the following symptoms after spending time outdoors. Like I mentioned earlier, because the ticks are so small, you may not even be aware of a recent bite.

Symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Muscle pain
  • Red bull’s-eye rash
  • Joint pain
Treatment

This is not an illness that can be treated with over-the-counter medications. If you experienced a recent tick bite and/or suspect you may have this disease, please see your doctor. Usually a course of antibiotics is required to treat this disease. The longer the infected tick remains embedded in the skin, the more susceptible you are in developing the disease. Although only a small majority of deer ticks actually carry the bacteria.

Prevention
  • Use precaution in grassy and wooded areas especially in the months of May, June and July when ticks are most active.
  • Wear long sleeved shirts and pants with socks when hiking in wooded and grassy areas. Some experts even suggest wearing light colored clothing so that you can spot the ticks more easily.
  • Apply an insect repellent that contains DEET (20% - 30%) on exposed skin and clothing to help repel ticks.
  • Take off clothing before heading indoors, then be sure to wash the clothing in hot water to kill off any ticks may still be present on the clothing.
  • Examine your skin for ticks for several days after a hike or camping trip just to make certain you did not miss any on your initial exam.
  • Keep your yard clear of high grass which can become a breeding ground for ticks.
Lyme disease is a serious illness that should not be ignored. Since 2002, there is no longer a vaccine available to protect us against this disease. If you happened to have received the vaccine prior to this date, the vaccine’s effectiveness will diminish over time, therefore you may not longer have the protection. Keep in mind too, that even if you had the misfortune to be diagnosed with Lyme disease in the past, you can contract it again. Should you experience any symptoms after a day in the woods or tall grass, make sure you head back to your health-care provider for a follow-up.

Have you ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease? If so, what were some of the symptoms that gave you a clue you may have it? Do you take precautions when hiking or camping to avoid tick bites?