May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month {don’t be afraid; instead KNOW how to protect & prevent}
I pulled the first tick from my baby’s delicate skin today. It was a tiny spec that looked like a freckle, but I knew instantly it didn’t belong. I took out a magnifying glass & a sharp pair of pointed tweezers. I proceeded without hesitation. KILL, KILL, KILL! That’s my baby girl your sinking your teeth into!
This post is meant to inform & warn you not scare you… about the dangers of Lyme disease & how you can prevent this ugly disease from entering your family. Knowing what to look for & being aware of the dangers will keep your family happy & healthy. There is no need to fear the outdoors! But it is VERY important to acknowledge that this can happen to anyone. It’s also important to know that it is easily eradicated in the early stages. I speak from personal experience as Lyme disease is now part of my family- my husband was diagnosed 5 years ago & we are still fighting this disease every day.
Most people are terrified when I mention the catastrophic health hazards that can be transmitted through a tick bite. But vowing to never go outside again isn’t a viable solution! The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to avoid the health risks caused by these nasty critters!
** When the winter doesn’t provide a ‘hard freeze’ the tick population the following Spring grows exponentially! This means this year we are at a greater risk.
PROTECT YOURSELF! {awareness is half the battle}
1) Ticks can be found anywhere but especially love tall grasses. They crawl up & find a nice spot to latch on. So using bug repellant can help tremendously, Avon Skin So Soft is the best non-chemical brand but I also spray my feet with 10% deet. When walking through tall grass, I tuck my jeans into my socks- I don’t care how silly it may look!
2) Ticks carry multiple diseases; however it typically takes at least 24 hours for an attached tick to transmit disease (as they must penetrate the blood borne barrier).
SOLUTION: Make ‘tick checks’ a part of your summer bedtime routine. Check for ticks when outdoor playtime is finished- & double check at bath time.
More than a third of new cases involve children. Sadly kids have a difficult time describing how they feel. This leads to tick-borne infections in children that are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed. It’s our responsibility as parents to know the facts & protect our children from suffering needlessly. Accurate & Timely diagnosis is Key
3) Pets can bring ticks into the house- if you have an outdoor pet make sure they are protected as well.
What to do when you find a tick??
1) Remove the little b*stard: use a pair of tweezers (sharp & pointed) grasp the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible (without crushing it) and pull it directly out. Do not remove ticks with petroleum jelly or hot objects, such as matches or cigarettes. These methods can increase the chance of a host tick injecting you with dangerous bacteria. YUCK!
- a) If you find it immediately, chances are slim any disease has been transmitted. Watch for any strange symptoms… lethargy, flu/cold symptoms, achy joints, general malaise. Then see your doctor, tell him about the tick bite. Short term antibiotics should solve any problem. If you’ve been bitten, here are a few things to be on the look-out for:
- Headache
- Chills and fever
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- A red rash that resembles a bull’s-eye
2) If you find an embedded tick, days later? Again, watch of symptoms- but I suggest going to your doctor telling them you had a tick embedded for several days. They can perform a Western Blot test after a couple of weeks to see if you were exposed. However testing isn’t always accurate… it’s important to be vigilant & to continue to monitor your condition. There are several stages of disease & symptoms that accompany each. You can read more about them on WebMD.
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The only way to insure this doesn’t happen to your family is knowing the facts & knowing when to ask your doctor for help! If you run into a medical professional that laughs at you or scoffs at your concern from a tick bite, FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR! (Again, from personal experience- this is a Hot Button topic in the medical & insurance fields.) Anyone in the medical community that doesn’t treat tick borne illnesses as a serious oncern, then they aren’t capable of properly handling the situation for you.
The MISINFORMATION
I would like to add that the ‘official’ estimated numbers of Lyme disease & other tick illnesses in the United States & abroad is VASTLY underestimated!!! Many patients never have an official diagnosis & others are mis-diagnosed with one of the following disorders: chronic fatigue, MS, parkinson’s, alzheimers, fibro-mialgia
Knowledge is power! Know the Facts & don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have a concern. Protect yourself & your Loved Ones and enjoy the outdoors without worry.
