U.S. Lyme Disease Cases on the Rise: How to Avoid This Dangerous Tick-Borne Illness
Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that can cause rash, body aches and even temporary paralysis, has been growing in the United States. In 2007, the most recent year for which data is available, 27,444 cases of Lyme disease were reported compared to under 9,000 in 1993.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried primarily by black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks). If an infected tick bites you (ticks feed on blood and will attach to a host, including mice, cats, dogs or humans), it can transfer the bacteria through your skin and into your bloodstream.
Tough anyone can get Lyme disease, you are most at risk if you spend a lot of time in wooded or grassy areas where ticks thrive. In the United States deer ticks in particular are most common in the Northeast and Midwest, along with northwestern states like Oregon and Washington.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
In up to 80 percent of cases, the first sign of Lyme disease is a circular rash that begins at the site of the tick bite (after about three to 30 days). The rash typically widens slowly over the course of several days. Some people also experience:
Fatigue
If left untreated, the infection can spread throughout your body causing more severe symptoms that include:
Although these symptoms often resolve without treatment, about 60 percent of people with untreated Lyme disease experience arthritis and severe joint pain and swelling. And in about 5 percent of cases, chronic neurological symptoms may develop, including numbness or tingling in your hands or feet and problems with concentration and short-term memory.
How to Prevent Lyme Disease
If you eliminate the cause then there is no need for a cure, and in the case of Lyme disease the “cause” is a tick bite. So you can drastically reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease by taking the following precautions to avoid exposure to ticks:
Instead, use the top-recommended Flea ‘n Tick B Gone, which is completely non-toxic, pesticide-free and safe. It can be sprayed directly onto your dog, cat or horse for effective and natural tick control.
What to do if You’ve Been Bitten by a Tick and Suspect You Have Lyme Disease
Keep in mind that just because you’ve been bitten by a tick it does not mean you’ll get Lyme disease. Only certain types of ticks carry Lyme disease, and of them only a minority carry the bacteria.
However, you should see your doctor immediately if you’ve been bitten by a tick and experience signs of Lyme disease because treatment is typically most effective when started early. Lyme disease is typically treated with antibiotics.
Ticks can also transmit other diseases aside from Lyme disease, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, Tularemia and Colorado tick fever, so if you’re concerned make sure your doctor rules those out as well.
Recommended Reading
