thenextmile

Each year, nearly 15,000 people are infected with Lyme Disease in the United States. The infection is caused by a germ that is carried by deer ticks. These ticks, which are about the size of a sesame seed, can spread the disease to animals and humans through bites. While Lyme Disease is most common in rural and suburban parts of the Midwest and Northeast, the disease is found in virtually every corner of the United States.

The most popular symptom of Lyme Disease is a rash which can appear anywhere from three to thirty days after a tick bite. The rash usually looks like a bull’s eye, and may begin as a small red spot that grows larger. Some people with Lyme Disease have many red spots and some may have few or none. The spots can burn and itch. Other symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, stiff neck, fatigue and muscle aches.

It’s rare, but early-stage Lyme Disease can spread to the hart or the nervous system. If this happens, it can cause a slower or irregular heartbeat and can cause the face to droop, otherwise known as Bell’s Palsy. Those infected may feel numbness in the arms and legs, or swelling of the brain.

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease can sometimes be difficult due to symptoms that often times mirror those of other illnesses. Blood tests are often used to make a diagnosis, but these tests can often give false results. Many people who have been sick with Lyme Disease for less than a month often don’t have antibodies to the disease, which means they won’t have a positive blood test. However, if the infected person has been sick for more than 4 weeks, the blood test will almost always be positive.

Early stage Lyme Disease usually responds well to antibiotic treatments. It’s important to follow doctor instructions while treating the disease, since the disease can spread to the joints, nervous system and heart. Late stage Lyme Disease is also treated with antibiotics, many of which will help reduce the swelling and pain associated with the late stages of the disease. If Lyme Disease isn’t treated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause arthritis and nervous system problems. Many people can have trouble concentrating, have sleep troubles or muscle weakness.

Lyme Disease can be prevented by avoiding tick bites. The easiest way to do this is to wear light colored clothing that covers most your skin when you’re out in the woods or overgrown grassy areas. This makes it easier to see ticks on your clothing. Insect repellant containing DEET can also help keep ticks from getting on your skin. After spending time outdoors, check your skin, including your scalp, for ticks and rashes. Pets also need to be checked. If you find a tick on your skin, use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick’s body as close to your skin as possible. Then pull in a steady motion until the tick comes out. After the tick is removed, watch the bite area for a few months. If you get a rash, see your doctor and be sure to let them know you were bitten by a tick and when it happened.

There are a number of support groups for those with Lyme Disease and their families. Many offer 24 hour help hotlines and meeting groups. The Lyme Disease Foundation helps raise money for Lyme Disease research and also holds seminars to inform people about the disease.

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