The most common bacterial infection transmitted through tick
bites. The three main species of bacteria causing the illness
are Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (common in US), Borrelia
garinii, and Borrelia afzelii. (common in Europe). Certain
black-legged ticks found on deer harbor the bacterium in their
stomachs. When these ticks bite the human skin, it causes
the bacterium to infect the body and cause Lyme Disease. Ticks
contract it as larvae when they feed on infected mice or squirrel.
Adult female ticks need the skin of the deer to lay their
eggs and for food, but the deer are not infected. Lyme disease
is not contagious from an affected person to another.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease:
Early symptoms that may be noticeable
are fatigue, headache, fever, flu-like symptoms, muscle soreness,
depression and a characteristic circular skin rash can occur
called as erythema migrans (EM) that looks red, warm and resembling
a bull’s eye.. When left untreated, Lyme disease can
cause abnormalities in the skin, joints, heart, and nervous
system. This disease is difficult to diagnose as symptom-manifestations
also resemble that of many other diseases. Lyme disease acquired
during pregnancy may lead to infection of the placenta and
possible stillbirth.
Prevalence of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the
United States especially between the months of May and September
when nymphal ticks are most active and people are frequently
outdoors and most exposed to them. The nymphal stage of the
tick is mostly responsible for the infection. The incubation
time for the appearance of symptoms is normally 2 to 4 weeks;
however, may be much shorter or very much longer than this.
It is endemic in North America (Massachusetts now is in the
fourth highly-infected place according to the CDC (Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention), Europe, and Asia: Though
the description of the syndrome dates to at least 100 years
back in Europe, the full spectrum of the disease came to be
identified only in 1975. In a place called Lyme in Connecticut
suddenly a group of children were affected with juvenile arthritis
at the same time. This led researchers to analyze the causative
agent and mechanism of the disease and hence given the name
Lyme Disease. Decreasing the deer population has not proved
beneficial in Lyme-disease zones as deers are only utilized
for the completion of the tick’s life cycle and deers
themselves are not infected.
Risk category for Lyme
Disease : Workers in the Northeastern and North-Central
United States are at highest risk of exposure to infected
ticks. Woods, bushes, high grass, or leaf litter are the likely
tick habitats. According to CDC, the high-risk are the outdoor
workers; those in Construction, Landscaping, Forestry, Brush
clearing, Land surveying, Farming, Railroad work, Oil field
work, Utility line work, and Park or wildlife management.
Prevention of tick bites/infection
1. Removing tick habitats.
2. Using 20%-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing to prevent
tick bites.
3. Applying Permethrin to pants, socks, and shoes is effective
through several washings.
4. Wearing hat, long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked
into boots or socks.
5. Checking for ticks on clothes and skin; the immature forms
of ticks are very small and hardly visible.
6. Showering or bathing after outdoor work and checking for
any ticks on hair, underarm, and groin area.
7. Pulling the ticks off the skin as soon as possible and
wash the area with soap and water. Removing infected ticks
within 24 hours reduces the risk of Lyme disease bacterium
infection because ticks will not transmit the infection until
they have had a blood meal.
8. Learning the symptoms of tick-borne diseases and approaching
a healthcare professional promptly in case of any symptoms.
Risk category for Lyme
Disease
Lyme disease is diagnosed based
on symptoms and the possibility of the person’s outdoor
work or exposure to infected ticks. The antibody test usually
remains positive for months to many years after an infection.
Tests like Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test
is used for diagnosing the disease and if this is positive
then Western blot test is done to confirm the diagnosis. For
people with chronic Lyme arthritis or nervous system symptoms
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is done.
Treatment for Lyme Disease
Usually, after manifestation of
symptoms, treatment should be started early and most cases
need antibiotic therapy for a few weeks. Currently, no vaccine
is available for Lyme disease. This disease can strike more
than once in the same individual.
So let's tackle ticks tactfully!
Watch the Video: How to remove a tick from skin
My biggest problem ...
"My
biggest problem is
what to do about all the things
I can't do anything about”
~
Ashleigh Brilliant
Disclaimer: The above content is provided
for information and awareness purpose only. It is not prescriptive
or suggestive or meant to replaces your qualified physician's
advice or consultation.