Attention to Lyme Disease – Harvard Health

Here's how to protect yourself from this growing tick-borne disease.

Posted: June 2019

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, but while you interact with nature, you need to look for ticks that carry Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States.

According to the CDC, about 300,000 people are diagnosed each year with Lyme disease, and new research suggests that this number will increase by 20% by mid-century.

"People spend more time outdoors, which is great, but this exposure also increases the risk of contracting Lyme disease, especially in endemic areas, including most of the world. Northeast and Midwest, "said David Crandell, director of the Dean Center for Tick The dismal disease at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. "Plus, the more people move in the suburbs near wooded areas or adjacent to protected land, the risk is even greater.You do not need to worry about spending time in nature as long as you take certain precautions before and after your outings. "

Symptoms and signs

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread by tick bites.

The earliest symptom is often an eye rash at the place of the tick bite, but it is sometimes forgotten. Fever, chills, fatigue and muscle and joint pains are other early signs. Later symptoms may include joint pain and swelling or "cerebral fog" that may appear and disappear.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, Lyme disease can lead to long-term health problems such as arthritis, severe fatigue or even memory problems.

Blood tests can confirm the presence of antibodies against Borrelia. But the test can give a false negative result if it is done too early. In addition, false positives are common and both situations can lead to misdiagnosis, says Dr. Crandell. Once confirmed, Lyme disease is treated with an antibiotic such as doxycycline. Doctors often follow a treatment of two to four weeks recommended by the CDC.

"Most people respond well to antibiotics," says Dr. Crandell. "However, some symptoms and signs can last for months or even years after the appropriate treatment."

Tick ​​checklist

Prevention is the best cure for Lyme disease. Here are some steps to protect yourself before and after you leave.

Treat yourself. Pretreat your clothes with permethrin, an insect repellent. "Spray your clothes – including your pants, your shirts, your socks and your shoes – and your clothes like backpacks in the early summer and again in the early fall because ticks are always present even when the weather starts to cool down, "says Dr. Crandell. Cover exposed skin with an insect repellent containing DEET (at least 20%), picaridine or IR3535. (See the Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations on repellents at www.health.harvard.edu/repellents.)

Dry your clothes. When you come in from outside, throw your clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes. (The heat kills the ticks.)

Check your body. Then do a thorough check of your skin. "You do not feel tick bites like you do with a mosquito bite, so you have to look for them," says Dr. Crandell. Pay attention to your underarms, your groin and your scalp, as ticks are attracted to hot, humid environments. "Checking your body while you shower is often a good way to check your tick," says Dr. Crandell. "If you have a visual impairment, you may need to call a partner."

Search and destroy

The good news is that it is unlikely that Lyme disease will occur if the tick is set for less than 36 to 48 hours. "It may take time for an infected tick to transmit Lyme disease after a bite," says Dr. Crandell. "Nevertheless, you want to get the ball rolling fast because it can also carry other bacteria, parasites and viruses."

If you find a congested tick attached to your skin and you live in an area where Lyme disease is common, antibiotic treatment can prevent the disease. Contact your doctor to discuss this preventive option.

To remove an attached tick, use tweezers to grab the tick as close as possible to the surface of the skin. Pull up with constant and even pressure. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with any alcohol or soap and lukewarm water.

Watch the area for a rash and watch for symptoms. "You should contact your doctor if you start to feel anything, or if you have questions about your exposure to a tick bite," says Dr. Crandell. If you find a tick crawling on you or in your house, it does not mean that you have been infected. Again, watch for the appearance of a rash and early signs.

Image: © gabort71 / Getty Images

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