Loading ...Featured Article Health & ImmunityDon’t Get Ticked Off By Lyme Disease
Summer is upon us and for many folks that means spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, walking and exploring forests and wooded areas. It also means working and playing in your own backyard.
No matter where you live in the continental United States, you are at risk for the tick-borne illness known as Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks harbor these bacteria and spread it when feeding on animals and humans. People in the Northeast, Midwest and Northwest are at highest risk, but these ticks can be found in any grassy or heavily wooded area — even your own backyard!
Signs and Symptoms
Most cases of Lyme disease start with a rash that looks like a bump, and then grows into something like a bull’s eye, as illustrated below.
© DermAtlas; http://www.DermAtlas.org.
This rash is called erythema migrans, and can start where the tick bite occurred. It happens in 70-80% of Lyme disease cases. Flu-like symptoms can also occur, such as fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and headache. The symptoms and pattern of Lyme disease can vary from person to person because the illness can affect many different body systems.
If you develop a rash and flu-like symptoms and feel that you may have contracted Lyme disease, you should seek medical attention. At this point in time, treatment is easy and can prevent the serious and sometimes severe complications of Lyme disease. Your doctor can fully evaluate and examine you for the illness. There is a blood test that can check to see if you have Lyme disease, but this test does take a few weeks after exposure to show a positive result.
If your doctor feels you have the early stages of Lyme disease, he or she will probably offer you a 10-14 day course of oral antibiotics to kill the bacteria and prevent complications. As the blood test can take some time before it becomes positive, oral antibiotics are recommended as a preventative.
If Not Treated…
What are the complications? It is amazing that a tick-borne illness can produce such serious issues. If not treated, severe joint pain can develop associated with swelling and redness. The knees are the most common joints affected, but the pain and swelling can move from joint to joint, a condition known as migratory arthritis.
People with untreated Lyme disease also can develop neurological problems. These include meningitis, Bell’s palsy (facial nerve paralysis), and numbness and weakness in the arms and legs. These problems can persist for months, even years, in an untreated infection, and can be very debilitating. Some people also develop an irregular heartbeat, eye problems, hepatitis and very severe chronic fatigue.
Take Precautions
You may be bitten by a deer tick and not even know it because it doesn’t hurt or sting. The tick attaches to your skin and eventually the Lyme disease bacteria will get into your bloodstream. This usually takes 48 hours. Common sense precautions include wearing protective clothing when in wooded/grassy areas and using a tick repellant containing a strong concentration of DEET —10 to 30%. Oil of lemon eucalyptus can also be used as a preventive. Do not use these products on children under the age of 3.
Checking yourself for ticks after possible exposure and removing the tick greatly lessens your chance of getting Lyme disease. Just grasp the tick with tweezers and remove as much of it as possible. Lastly, maintaining your yard by keeping the grass mowed and brush trimmed will keep the tick population down.
Your pets are also at risk for deer tick bites, and they should be checked carefully for ticks and/or a rash after being outdoors. Also, there have been cases of Lyme disease where people weren’t in the woods or grassy areas, so be aware of your risk just spending time outdoors.
Using these precautions and preventive strategies, you greatly reduce your chance of getting a deer tick bite and developing Lyme disease. If you are bitten by a tick, you now know what the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are and can seek early medical attention to prevent the serious complications of the disease.
So, enjoy this summer and the great outdoors to the fullest…and protect yourself against Lyme disease!
[Ed. Note: Lisa Forgione, MD, is an Emergency Medicine Physician, a Diplomate of ABFM and a Member of AAFP and NCAFP. She has received several Physicians Recognition Awards for teaching from the AMA and AAFP. Dr. Forgione was recently selected as one of the Top Family Doctors of 2009 by the Consumers' Research Council of America.]
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Hello, I am in New South Wales, Australia and have recently been bitten by a number of ticks and had swellings and rashes and a very difficult time with this situation. I was interested in your article and intend to go to the doctor again and have a test now that you have mentioned Lyme disease. So far the medical people have done very little to help me with this problem. I have bought ointment and Ledem Pal homeopathic and many things but still suffer from the bites. Thank you for your information. It was very valuable although we do not have deer here we have many other animals surrounding this area. Yours with thanks, Carmen Sebestyen.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 6:24 am. PermalinkPlease go and see the patents many of the IDSA/CDC personnel own, and how they narrowed the disease defination of Lyme to profit off the sick and dying.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 6:31 am. Permalink.
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View LymeCryme Overview PowerPoint presentation:
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HELP END THE SUFFERING!
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Please check article on Deet by Mercola.com
Thanks
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 7:39 am. PermalinkIf Lyme disease can occur in the absence of tick exposure and in areas where there are no ticks, this suggests that the tick may not be the cause of the disease.
In other words, the precautions to prevent tick exposure may not be necessary or sufficient to the prevention of Lyme disease.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 8:51 am. PermalinkDear Dr. Forgione,
You do a great disservice to your readers by stating that “There is a blood test that can check to see if you have Lyme disease, but this test does take a few weeks after exposure to show a positive result.” The blood tests for Lyme are VERY inaccurate, and even the CDC states that Lyme Disease is a clinical diagnosis, meaning the doctor should go by symptoms and not rely on the blood test which was to be used for survailence purposes only.
Also, the rash for Lyme doesn’t always look like a “bull’s eye rash” and some doctors will dismiss it because of that reason.
You also didn’t mention all the co-infections that can also be transmitted at the same time from the same tick.
The CDC believes that only 10% of cases actually get reported, and personally I believe that many go mis-diagnosed as other illness such as MS, ALS, Fibromyalgia, CFC, Lupus etc.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 9:04 am. PermalinkYou didn’t mention Permethrin as a tick preventative. Permethrin is marketed as Permanone and available in a variety of brands including Repel. It is applied to one’s clothing, NOT the skin. According to the label this product will remain active on one’s clothes for up to two weeks and will even survive laundering. I spend a lot of time in the woods hunting, fishing and camping. I have used this product for years and can attest to it’s effectivness. Although it isn’t labeled as a mosquito repellent, it works well for that, too.
In addition to keeping the grass cut and brush cleaned up, another way that ticks can be discouraged from one’s yard is to keep the yard limed (no pun intended). Applying lime to one’s lawn will raise the ph of the soil…ticks appear to prefer acid soil conditions. We used to live in Isle of Wight County, in southeastern Virginia, near the Zuni Pine Barrens (now known as The Blackwater Ecological Preserve). The sandy soil in our yard registered in the 4.6 to 5.0 range on the ph scale. We would regularly pick up ticks (and red bugs) just walking across the yard. I began liming the yard in an effort to get grass to grow and discovered that we were no longer getting the critters on us unless we went into the woods beyond the yard. I’ll admit that this was hardly an imperical study, but…the results speak for themselves.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am. PermalinkPaul Brockman
Virginia Beach, Va.
I have to strongly agree with ‘Lyme Fighter’. I was VERY disappointed in your article. Where did you get your information because it is outdated and very allopathic minded. ‘Lyme disease’ is the condition that comes from being infected by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. This can be transmitted by other biting insects besides ticks. Also, the infamous bull’s eye rash as a tell tale sign (or rash of any kind) is a joke. The rash shows up in less than 30% of infected people! The CDC guidelines are severly outdated and should NOT be used for a diagnosis. As far as the mention of blood tests to determine whether a person has been infected is also a hit or miss. There are only a few labs in the US that are genuinely qualified to find the bacterium in the blood once it has morphed and or gone into hiding. It is estimated now that most cases of arthritis and fibromyalgia and MS are often misdiagnosed and are really the bacterium. Also, a lot of time the infected person has had this bacterium for many years before becomming symptomatic. You also did not note that it can be transmitted through bodily fluids. Along with the fact you did not even mention the co-infections.
I, myself have been misdiagnosed with MS when in fact if I did not do my homework I never would have figured it to be Lyme. P.S. Unless caught immediately antibiotics will have little or no effect. And the schedule of a few days or weeks is well, you might as well not do anything. One needs to be on potent IV antibiotics for over six months which is limited by managed care. One of my fevorite books on the subject is by Stephen Harrod Buhner called ‘Healing Lyme’
dr Laura Lewars ND
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 11:54 am. PermalinkL.S.
Entered: May 15th, 2009 at 5:49 pm. PermalinkDid you see the movie “under our skin”? The you tube clips do not say the half, buy the movie and see what Dr Mc Donalds discovered!
Namaste,
Jolanta
Hello,
Entered: May 16th, 2009 at 9:13 pm. PermalinkI was recentle diagnosed with lyme disease. I never got the bulls eye, so I couldnt tell by that. I am a competitive runner when I couldn’t perform as before at first blamed it at getting old lol, but the overwhelming fatigue and soreness of muscles (quads) pain in my hips and knees very diabilitating and upsetting. I love gardening always hiking in the woods etc and there is nothing I regret. I’m glad that atleast know and treating. I am in a one month dioxicline antibiotic. seek attention if you don’t feel your normal self. cometlily@yahoo.com
In 2006 I cut my hand while cleaning a deer that was covered in ticks. In about a week I developed flu like symptoms but it only lasted about 2 days. I then developed swelling in hands and feet. My fingers were at least 2 times normal size and I could not make a fist. I went to an infectious disease DR. in Birmingham, Alabama and he did multiple tests and could not diagnose me with Lymes disesae. I also developed soreness in all my joints and was refered to an Rhumatologist who said I had something concerning the blood contact but he could not diagnose me with Lymes disease. I took several rounds of Bacterial antibotics over the course of months following the blood exposure and I am now still not well. Most of the problems are now in my knees, mostly my left knee which swells and hurts and does not work well most of the time. I still do not have the diagnosis although I had all the symptoms except the red ring arouond a tick bite. I believe that a person can get Lymes disease from blood contact just like many other diseases are spread.
Entered: May 17th, 2009 at 6:48 pm. PermalinkDon Wilson Livewire01@AOL.COM
Thanks for including anatural alternative to the people-toxic bug repellants!
Entered: May 18th, 2009 at 8:45 am. PermalinkI have had Lyme Disease three times. The last time it was not diagnosed because of the tests–they kept saying that I was negative for Lyme when I was clearly not. I ended up with some vision loss and a damaged valve in my heart; and I still have problems with arthritis.
Entered: May 19th, 2009 at 7:27 am. PermalinkI have found that following a high-protein diet seems to lessen the symptoms quite a bit. I found this out by accident when I tried my husband’s diet (he’s diabetic). When I go off the diet the symptoms come right back and then I am not much good for anything. I have also found that the symptoms recur during stressful periods–I go right back to being exhausted and unable to move.
I would like to see more information about natural remedies, like cat’s claw and oregano oil. I have tried both and they seem to help. I refuse to take antibiotics multiple times a year for symptom management because the long term effects are not worth it.
The tests are mostly worthless. The lab that did my bloodwork did not diagnose me as positive because I came up positive on less than five bars. I found out way too late that their criteria for positive is OVER FIVE BARS ONLY. I wonder how many people have suffered unnecessarily because of this.
I live in CT. There was a story in the news here recently about how CT residents are going out of state to get treated properly because not many doctors in CT know how to treat the disease. The standard therapy is 21 days of antibiotics and that is it. You have to fight tooth and nail for another 21 days if you need it; and most of the doctors think you don’t. The one Lyme literate doctor in CT that I know of charges $350 per visit, which is out of reach unless you have really good insurance (actually a lot of the insurance companies won’t cover the treatment either). To say it gets frustrating would be a massive understatement.
Paul: Thanks for the tip on Permethrin. I will check it out.
DEET is neurotoxin. Dr.Mercola has natural solution. Below is the qoute from Dr.Mercola.com:
DEET is a pesticide intended to kill insects! In case that idea by itself doesn’t scare you, read on to discover the health issues it is known to cause.
DEET sprays can melt plastic bags and fishing lines. Does that make you wonder what it can do to you?
Please don’t use DEET!
Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides.
He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain — demonstrated in the lab by death and behavioral changes in rats with frequent or prolonged use
When these rats had their skin treated with the average human dosage equivalent (40 mg/kg body weight) of DEET, they performed far worse than control rats on physical tests requiring muscle control, strength, and coordination.
This is consistent with reports of symptoms after military use of DEET in the Persian Gulf War.
Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brainiii — including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.
Heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides can cause eye and skin irritation, memory loss, headaches, weakness, fatigue, muscle/joint pain, nausea, tremors and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear months or even years after use.
Abou-Donia believes that although short-term exposure to DEET might not be harmful, he warns against ever using any product with more than a 30 percent concentration. To me, even that seems a dangerous and risky amount to use.
But wait! It gets worse…
“We found that the combined exposure to DEET and other chemicals is more dangerous than just DEET alone,” says Abou-Donia.
Exposure causes neurons to die in several parts of your brainiv — including areas that control muscle movement, memory, concentration and learning. Abou-Donia says rats given small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks, things as simple as walking.
why not use Dr. Mercola’s BUG OFF: The Natural Anti-Insect Spray offers just the solution you need in an all-natural formulation free of DEET.Because Dr. Mercola’s BUG OFF doesn’t contain neurotoxins or other dangerous or suspicious ingredients, you can apply generously without fear of reactions or long-term issues. Caveat: Do not use this product if you are sensitive to lemongrass.
Entered: June 6th, 2009 at 8:51 am. Permalinkto the best of health!
Best regards!
I must say that most of the so-called medical statements are very simplistic or plainly incorrect. Lyme disease can be transmitted in many ways, not only by deer ticks. I have no idea where I contracted my Lyme disease. If I did not have a neighbor with an Ondamed machine it probably would never have been diagnosed. Don’t rely on doctors!!!The tests are also very unreliable. The other day we had a speaker in our support group who knew he had Lyme disease. The tests came out negative twice. Reason: He had been on painkillers, which lead to negative results. I think doctors should know this but apparently they don’t. I have been treated by a doctor who refuses to continue treating me because the tests are unreliable. If he were a really Lyme knowledgeable doctor he would know that that there are other criteria that must be considered.The Lyme treatment in this country is a disaster and there are at least 200,000 new infections each year. I wish doctors would stop practicing “useless medicine” (prescribing ineffective pharmaceutical crap) and would devote their efforts to real medical problems.
Entered: October 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pm. Permalink