Amity Observer
June 22, 2006

Lyme Disease Is Not a Joke

By: Terri Miles, Editor, As I See It...

Ticks, ticks, ticks. They seem to be everywhere this year. I've found them in my living room, bathroom, kitchen and car, not to mention the backyard.

I know my two dogs unwittingly carry them into the house, and I am grateful that so far the only species I've found are dog ticks and not deer ticks.

Still, they're disgusting.

I have a dear friend who has suffered the complications of a Lyme disease infection for eight years and just as things start getting better, it comes back and hits him hard.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease include fever and chills, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, stiff neck, and headache.

Most people know that an expanding red rash at the site of a tick bite often accompanies Lyme.

However, Lyme rashes can occur anywhere on the body and vary in size and shape. They most likely will be warm to the touch, but are not usually painful or itchy.

If you experience any of these symptoms after a tick bite, call your doctor immediately. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better off you will be.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) urges the public to take every possible precaution against contracting the disease.

Lyme disease, as you might already know, is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans and pets, from the bite of infected black-legged (deer) ticks.

Those are the ones that are about the size of a poppy seed, or the period at the end of this sentence. They are very hard to find until they already have begun feasting on their hosts.

Last year, doctors reported 1,810 confirmed cases of Lyme in Connecticut, and the rather balmy winter has actually helped the tick population to thrive.

Department of Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin said residents can enjoy outdoor activities, but should follow some simple precaution to reduce the risk of infection.

• Use insect repellent containing 30 to 40 percent DEET, even if you are just in your backyard.
• Wear light-colored clothing and tuck long pants into socks to make ticks easier to detect and to help keep them off skin.
• Wear close-toed shoes.
• Do a thorough tick check of yourself, your children and pets, preferably before you enter your home. Completely remove any ticks you find.

The DPH said research has determined that the sooner you remove an attached tick, the less likely you will become infected with Lyme disease. It recommends removing ticks from yourself and your pets within 24 hours.

Yes, ticks are disgusting and something no one wants to deal with, but, if you must remove a tick, don't use hot matches, nail polish remover, petroleum jelly or other substances. The DPH said you actually could increase your chance of infection using these methods.

The DPH recommends using tweezers, and grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, pulling it out with steady pressure.

Yanking it out may cause the head to break off and remain embedded in the skin.

Thoroughly wash the area with soap and water, then dry and apply a topical antiseptic.

The DPH offers additional tips for managing the landscaping in your yard to help prevent tick infestation.

• Keep grass mowed. Remove leaf litter, brush any tall weeds from around the house and at the lawn's edge.
• Use plants that don't attract deer.
• Move firewood, birdhouses and bird feeders away from the house.

After visiting the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station in New Haven a while back, I learned that a three-foot or wider wood chip, mulch or gravel barrier between the lawn and wooded areas serves as a protective barrier.

Untreated Lyme disease can lead to untold misery. Some simple precautions can prevent it.

This article represents the opinion of Editor Terri Miles and does not necessarily reflect the views of Hometown Publications.

IDEXX has a firm commitment to your privacy. We do not sell or share information
with third parties. View our full Privacy Policy and Terms of Use