By PAPHR

Everything You Need to Know About Ticks, Their Removal and Lyme Disease – Public Health

May 2, 2011 | 12:49 PM

Communicable Diseases: Lyme Disease

What is it?

* Lyme Disease is an illness caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that can cause serious problems of the joints, nervous system and heart.
* It is called “the great imitator” because it can mimic many other diseases.
* It spreads through tick bites.
* The tick is difficult to detect and the bite is often painless, therefore preventive measures are important.
* The disease can strike more than once in the same individual if he or she is reinfected.

What signs and symptoms can you have?

* Symptoms may appear days to years after you are bitten by an infected tick.

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Symptoms vary widely, from no symptoms to:

* early (within days or week) – fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, a skin rash that in two-thirds of the cases resembles a bull's eye (an expanding red circle with a clear area in the middle).
* late (within weeks, months or years) – arthritis, numbness, pain, paralysis of facial muscles, meningitis, encephalitis or heart abnormalities.

How does a person get Lyme Disease?

* Ticks live in tall grass and wooded areas and live on blood drawn from animals and people. They are most active during spring and summer.
* The tick becomes infected after feeding on other infected animals such as mice or deer.
* The bacteria passes to your body when an infected tick inserts its mouth-parts into your skin and feeds on your blood. They are most likely to transmit infection after two or more days of feeding.

What is the risk of getting Lyme Disease?

* The chance of contracting Lyme Disease in Saskatchewan is very small as the ticks found here usually do not transmit this bacteria. On rare occasions they can carry other diseases.
* Although rare in Saskatchewan, there have been many cases reported in Ontario and British Columbia.
* The species of ticks that commonly carry this bacteria are the size of the head of a pin and are commonly found in parts of the United States, Ontario, British Columbia and several other provinces. You will need extra vigilance when travelling in these areas.

How do you treat Lyme Disease?

* Lyme Disease can be treated with antibiotics. See your physician immediately if you have any of the early symptoms within days or week of a tick bite.
* The earlier treatment starts the better chance there is of a full recovery, but even with treatment, symptoms may persist for some time.

How do you prevent Lyme Disease?

Environmental Protection

* Keep weeds and grass cut in yards and recreation areas.
* Clear bush along paths.

While outdoors

* Avoid contact with vegetation by walking, sitting and laying on cleared trails, paths or areas.
* Wear light coloured clothing to increase the likelihood of detecting ticks that are clinging to clothing. Wear pants and long sleeved shirts, tuck pants into socks or boots, tuck shirts into pants, and wear smooth or tightly woven materials.
* Apply insect repellent that contains DEET to clothing and exposed skin following product directions and the precautionary measures listed below.

After an outing

* Check under good lighting for ticks on skin, clothing and gear.
* Pay special attention to body areas with hair and pressure points (eg. waistline).
* Check pets for ticks regularly and brush off outdoors.

If you find an attached tick:

* Do not touch the tick with your bare hands.
* Gently grasp the tick, with tweezers, as close to the skin as possible. Steadily lift it straight off the skin, avoiding jerking or twisting it out.
* Do not squeeze the body, apply vaseline, use a burning match, or apply alcohol while the tick is attached as any of these actions could cause trasmission of the bacteria.
* Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

Precautionary Measures for DEET insect repellents.

* Keep all insect repellent containers out of the reach of children.
* Always read the entire label before using.
* Never use anything labelled insecticide on your body.
* Never use insect repellents on infants or toddlers.
* Try not to use personal insect repellents on young children. If you do apply lightly.
* Children may be more sensitive and at a higher risk of harmful reactions, therefore always supervise application of insect repellent on children. Use extra caution to avoid contact with the eyes. Avoid spraying on children's hands to reduce the chance of getting the repellent in their eyes and mouths.
* Apply the repellent sparingly and only when you really need protection. One application will last four to eight hours. Saturation does not increase its protective power. Use only on exposed skin and clothing.
* Wash treated skin with soap and water when you return indoors or when protection is no longer needed.
* Do not get in eyes and avoid breathing spray mists. If you do get repellent in your eyes, rinse immediately with water.
* Do not use repellent on open wounds, irritated or sunburned skin.
* To see if you are sensitive to a particular product, apply it to a small area of skin on your arm before general use.

Stop using the product immediately if you experience any reactions, such as:

* skin or eye irritation,
* allergic reactions, or
* behavioral changes or abnormal movements.
* Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or are severe and take the product container with you.

For more information call Public Health