The number of cases of Lyme disease increases in Michigan



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TAYLOR, Mich. (WXYZ) – It's now the time of year for ticks and it's a good time to remember that ticks can carry Lyme disease.

According to the latest figures from the Michigan Department of Health and Social Services, the number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease has increased. In 2015, 152 people were diagnosed with Lyme disease. In 2016, 228 diagnoses were reported and in 2017, it increased again to reach 291.

Lyme disease was diagnosed in Sarah Rose Baran, of Taylor, in 2015. She thinks she contracted the disease at around age 6, remembering a time when she had discovered a rash. "bull's-eye".

"If you end up with a rash, you absolutely have Lyme disease, absolutely," Baran said.

She said that by the time she had been tested for Lyme disease and that the test had been negative, the treatment had been rejected. Over the years, she has suffered from a myriad of problems and misdiagnoses. In college, the symptoms began to appear.

"I started having memory problems, depression, anxiety, and I really started to struggle," said Baran.

She finally found a doctor to give him the appropriate diagnosis. She said that she had had to give up her teaching career because of the symptoms, but that she was hoping to return to the classroom one day.

"The truth is we do not know how long it will take me to recover," Baran said. She has a

GoFundMe Page

to help him fight against Lyme disease.

Here are some tips for preventing Lyme disease / ticks

Michigan Department of Health and Social Services

:

  • Avoid areas infested with ticks, including grass and brush. If you go out to enjoy a natural trail, walk to the center of the trails.
  • Remember to apply an insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin. Repellents should contain between 20% and 30% of DEET inside.
  • People can treat their clothes with permethrin, including pants, socks and shoes. Permethrin can kill ticks and you can buy pre-treated clothing. Do not put permethrin directly on the skin.
  • Check the ticks daily by inspecting your body once you are inside. It is also a good idea to check if your animals have ticks.
  • If you find a tick on your body, remove it with tweezers. To remove a tick, grasp it firmly and as close to the skin as possible. From a regular motion, move the body away from the tick of the skin. Clean the area with an antiseptic. You can also register the tick for it to be tested and check if it has Lyme disease.
  • Take a bath or shower when you return, preferably within the first two hours.
  • Wash your clothes in hot water and place them in the dryer on high heat to remove ticks that may remain on clothing.

In 2018, the Michigan Department of Health and Social Services launched the "One Note, Send a Photo" program. This allows people to send a picture of a tick found to help them determine what kind of tick it is. People can submit photos to [email protected].

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