Ticks seem to be a real problem this year. If you or your loved ones spend time outside or in the woods, you may have experienced at tick bite. I have already pulled four ticks off of my children this summer.
Many people have lots of questions and misconceptions about ticks when it comes to Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick borne bacterial disease that affect humans and pets. Back in the mid-1970’s there was an outbreak of arthritis in children in Lyme, Connecticut. Dr. Willy Burgdorfer at the Rocky Mountain laboratories isolated the cause of the disease, hence the name of the disease.
Ticks transmit the disease to humans and animals. The bacterium has been found in the southern United States although it is rare. It is more commonly found in the Northeast and upper Midwest. It is generally found in the deer tick. Ticks acquire the Lyme disease agent by feeding on infected white footed mice.
The tick will ingest the bacterium and later pass it to humans. Normally, the tick has to be attached 36 to 48 hours before the bacterium is transmitted into the blood stream.
What are some misconceptions about Lyme disease?
• If you don’t develop the rash, you do not have Lyme disease. This is not true. Approximately one in five people (20 percent) never develop a rash, yet they have Lyme disease.
• If you test negative for Lyme disease, you do not have the disease. This is not necessarily true. The test for Lyme disease is not always reliable. Many people remain untreated because of negative test results; when this happens, they might become ill and suffer possible permanent damage. Physicians sometimes play it safe and treat for Lyme disease if it is even suspected.
• Lyme disease is deadly. Not necessarily true. Although some people have died from Lyme disease, it is generally not life-threatening. But Lyme disease can be a long and debilitating illness.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Along with flu-like symptoms, a rash shaped like a bull’s-eye sometimes appears at the site of a tick bite. This rash is a definitive indication of infection in endemic areas. However, it should be noted that similar rashes may occur as a result of allergic reactions to tick bites.
The early symptoms of Lyme disease are mild, mimic many other illnesses, and are often overlooked. Flu-like symptoms may include headaches, swollen lymph nodes, stiff and painful joints and muscles, fatigue, and low-grade fever. Other symptoms of early-stage Lyme disease may include changes in vision and hearing, tingling or numbness of extremities, heart abnormalities, rib soreness, shortness of breath, and facial palsy (Bell’s palsy).
Symptoms may occur several weeks after infection. If untreated, the rash and symptoms subside, although the infection may persist. People who do not develop the rash often go untreated for some time. A relatively short course of antibiotics at this stage can cure Lyme disease.
Several months after infection, symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, and the heart may develop or worsen. These may include muscle aches, joint swelling and pain, and rib soreness. Nervous system symptoms may include a stiff neck, headache, irritability, difficulty sleeping, confusion, difficulty concentrating, tingling of extremities, and vision problems. Irregular heartbeat is also common.
Longer periods of antibiotic treatment might be required to treat Lyme disease at this stage. Months to years after infection, more severe and chronic symptoms may develop. Arthritis or pain in large joints may occur along with numbness and tingling of extremities. Also common are Bell’s palsy (facial paralysis), paralysis of limbs, short-term memory loss, inability to finish sentences, hearing and vision problems, severe sleep disorder or sleep disturbance, depression, heart palpitations, tremors, confusion, disorientation, speaking and writing difficulty, and mood swings.
Treatment of Lyme disease in this later stage is more difficult. Because ticks may be small, patients may not recall the tick bite or attribute their illness to a tick bite. This is especially true because the most common carrier (at least in the northern states) is the nymphal stage, which is significantly smaller than an adult tick and easily overlooked.
Diagnosing Lyme disease is often difficult unless the bull’s-eye rash is present. Lyme disease affects each patient differently, with a wide variation in symptoms. Because Lyme disease mimics other diseases, this can lead to its misdiagnosis as multiple sclerosis, lupus, or other diseases.
Tests for Lyme disease are sometimes unreliable and can yield false negative results. Doctors may hesitate in treating patients, especially in the early stages of Lyme disease. In later stages, a positive result is more likely. It may be better to be cautious and treat for Lyme disease if it is suspected.
You need to make it a priority to check yourself and your loved ones for ticks after being outside or in the woods. If you or someone you know suspects they have Lyme disease, seek medical attention.
If you would like more information on how Lyme disease can be prevented, please contact the Newton County Extension Office and ask for publication 2296.
