Summer Brings Lyme Disease Risk

Summer is upon us in North America, and it's a time where Lyme Disease risk is at its highest.  Deer ticks can harbor the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease, and then spread it when feeding on the blood of humans and animals.

The risk for contracting Lyme disease is higher if you spend time in wooded and grassy areas where there are more likely to be ticks that carry the disease.

Generally, the symptoms of Lyme disease can include joint pain, flu-like symptoms, numbness, rash and fatigue.  When Lyme disease is untreated, complications may arise such as impaired memory, joint inflammation, irregular heart rhythm and neurological symptoms.

Contrary to what many people might believe, only a small amount of deer tick bites actually end up causing Lyme disease.

Deer ticks are brown in color and can be very difficult to spot as they are usually no larger than the head of a pin. Only if a tick stays attached to your skin for 48 hours or longer can bacteria from a tick bite can enter your bloodstream.  However, removing the tick right away is important in order to prevent infection.

When you visit a doctor regarding possible Lyme disease symptoms, they will likely perform tests such as the ELISA test, which detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi. The Western blot test is another test given to confirm a Lyme disease diagnosis. A PCR, or Polymerase chain reaction test is also sometimes given which helps detect bacterial DNA in the fluid from an infected joint.

Once a diagnosis of Lyme disease has been made, oral or intravenous antibiotics are usually prescribed.

The best thing to do is to be proactive in order to prevent Lyme disease from ever happening to you.  Some simple precautions you can take include using insect repellents, wearing long pants and sleeves, and checking yourself, children and pets for ticks.