If you live anywhere with a somewhat prevalent tick population, you've probably heard of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is bacterial and is passed to human beings through ticks that are infected. There are a lot of factors that play into your susceptibility to Lyme disease, but if you suspect that you have been exposed to an infected tick, it is important to get medical help right away. Lyme disease can be painful and long lasting, and can greatly impact your quality of life.
What is Lyme Disease?
As mentioned above, Lyme disease is a bacterial disease passed through ticks. After being bitten, the symptoms of the disease can start to appear between three and thirty days later. In some rare cases the symptoms will appear months after exposure. When it comes to contracting Lyme disease, there are a few different factors. The type of tick, the location of the bite, and if you seek medical treatment can all affect your susceptibility to the disease.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Symptoms of this disease depend on what stage it is in. In the beginning, you will notice a fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes. It can be hard to tell that you have contracted Lyme disease because you will simply feel like you have the flu. If you do not seek treatment, the symptoms can get worse. Some of the worsening symptoms will include: headaches, a stick neck, body rashes, arthritis, loss of muscle tone, heart palpitations, brain swelling, and pain or numb feet and hands.
One of the tell tale signs of Lyme disease is a "bulls-eye" bite. This is a red center surrounded by a red ring. If this is not present, that does not mean that you have not contracted Lymes. The bullseye only appears in about 20-30% of people who suffer from the illness. However, if you notice the bullseye look, seek treatment immediately.
Treatment of Lyme Disease
When caught early, Lyme disease can treated with special antibiotics. This will normally take a couple weeks and is fairly effective in curing the infection. When the disease has progressed, it will need stronger antibiotics, generally administered intravenously. Sadly, in the late stages of Lyme disease, there is no cure.
Prevention of Lyme Disease
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is through limiting your exposure to ticks. Ticks are very tiny, and can be hard to see. In fact, they can be about the size of a poppy seed. Ticks do not fly and will not jump, but they live in plants, shrubs, and bushes, and can easily attach to your skin if you are in these areas. To help avoid ticks, be sure to wear pants and socks and keep your skin as covered as possible when in wooden areas. It is also important to invest in tick repellent and rinse off in the shower soon after coming inside from a possible exposure. Have a friend or family member search your hair and body for possible tick marks. If you believe that there are ticks in the area, put your clothes into the dryer on high heat to eliminate any potential bugs that may be on your person.
If you have been bitten by a tick, seek medical attention immediately. If you see a tick under your skin, use tweezers to remove it. Clean the area thoroughly with alcohol. You are not likely to get the infection if you remove the tick between 36. and 48 hours after being exposed to it, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Be on the lookout for any irregularities in your skin and be incredibly mindful after spending time outdoors.