May 30, 2012
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Ticks are already out and the Maine CDC expects the number of Lyme disease cases to increase as the weather continues to get warmer. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Maine. Learn to recognize the symptoms and know the facts (see attached information).
LYME DISEASE SYMPTOMS
• RASH: A few days to a month before you have other symptoms, a small, red bump may appear at the site of the tick bite. Over the next few days, the redness expands, forming a rash in a bull’s-eye pattern, with a red outer ring surrounding a clear area.
• FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS: Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache may accompany the rash.
• MIGRATORY JOINT PAIN: If the infection is not treated, you may develop bouts of severe joint pain and swelling several weeks to months after you’re infected. Your knees are especially likely to be affected, but the pain can shift from one joint to another.
• NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS: In some cases, inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness in your limbs, and impaired muscle movement may occur weeks, months or even years after an untreated infection.
• LESS COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Some people may experience heart problems – such as an irregular heartbeat – several weeks after infection, but this rarely lasts more than a few days or weeks. Eye inflammation, hepatitis and severe fatigue are possible.
• WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR: If you know you’ve been bitten and experience signs and symptoms of Lyme disease – particularly if you live in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent – contact your doctor immediately. Treatment for Lyme disease is most effective if begun early. Only a minority of deer tick bites lead to Lyme disease. The longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting the disease.
HOW TO KEEP DEER TICKS OFF
• Use tick repellent.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Tuck your pants legs inside your socks.
• Wear light-colored clothing so it’s easier to see ticks.
• Avoid interfaces of grassy areas and woods.
• When you get home, do a tick check.
Source: The Mayo Clinic
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