How to Avoid Lyme Disease

Category: Infectious Diseases

Lyme Disease is named for a town on the coast of Connecticut where a large cluster of cases occurred and the causative agent, a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, was discovered. Lyme Disease is transmitted while being bitten by certain species of ticks (mostly the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick) that carry this type of bacteria. The first sign of infection is erythema migrans, a circular rash, that occurs in most people within 3-30 days of being bitten. Patients usually experience flu-like symptoms, especially joint pain. Treatment with antibiotics, if started early, will clear up most infections. However, some people have long lasting debility from this infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most effective way to avoid Lyme Disease is to prevent exposure to ticks. The best ways to accomplish this are:

1. Avoid areas prone to ticks such as tall grass, wooded or bushy areas, especially where there is a lot of leaf litter.

2. Take extra care during May, June and July when tick numbers are highest.

3. Local health departments and university extension services can provide accurate information about which areas are most infested.

4. Wear long sleeved clothes and pants when hiking in tick prone areas, and tuck pant legs into socks to limit skin exposure to ticks.

5. Make tick free zones around your home by ensuring brush and leaf debris are removed, and grass is cut regularly. Placing wood chips or rock covered sections between the lawn and wooded areas will restrict migration of ticks into play and relaxation areas.

6. Do regular tick checks over your body. Ticks that are attached for more than 24 hours are more likely to pass on the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. If you do find a tick remove it at the base as soon as possible using tweezers. Contact a health official to decide if you will need treatment. The earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis.


Posted by on July 12, 2006 12:54 PM