Press "Enter" to skip to content

What you need to know about Lyme disease

The weather is warming and people are spending more and more time outdoors.

The month of May means time spent in the garden, hikes in the woods and all sorts of other ventures into nature. It also means Lyme disease season is here.

And Pennsylvania is ground zero for the disease.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Pennsylvania has led the nation in reported Lyme disease cases the last several years. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the state accounted for about 29% of the cases across the country with just over 6,700.

The state Department of Health said the number of Lyme disease cases in Pennsylvania has been topping 10,000 in recent years, with the disease present in all 67 counties of the state.

Dr. Debra Powell, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Reading Hospital, said southeastern Pennsylvania has seen a growth in Lyme disease cases over the past two decades as the ticks that carry it migrate farther south and west from their original home in the Cape Cod area.

Powell called the region an endemic area for Lyme disease, saying on average across Pennsylvania about 37% of ticks carry the disease.

Experts say warm and wet springs the last two years will likely make things even worse in 2022, allowing the plant life that feeds ticks to flourish and the population of ticks to explode.

So what does that mean? Here’s what you need to know about Lyme disease.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused mainly by the bacterium Borreia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bites of ticks.

Powell said in Pennsylvania the disease is typically carried by deer ticks, which are small, black insects also known as blacklegged ticks. Ticks need to consume blood to develop through the different stages of their life cycle, she said, and can become infected with Lyme disease when they feed on an infected animal, most typically a white footed mouse.

Pennsylvania tops nation in Lyme disease cases
Pennsylvania tops the nation in Lyme disease cases. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

When an infected tick chooses to feed on a human it can transmit Lyme disease to them. The disease is usually only passed to a human if the tick feeds on them for a day or more.

May is consider a high-risk time for Lyme disease, with ticks becoming very active.

“This is considered tick season,” Powell said. “Ticks hatch in very early spring and right now they’re looking for something to eat. They’re looking for mammals to feed on.”

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

The symptoms of Lyme disease comes in different stages, Powell said.

The first is its trademark bull’s-eye shaped red rash. As the disease moves through the blood stream, it can cause symptoms like fever, fatigue and chills, similar to what someone would experience from the flu.

Early symptoms tend to appear three to 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick.

If not treated, Lyme disease can go on to affect people’s joints, heart and nervous system.

Severe symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat.

• Dizziness and shortness of breath.

• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

• Nerve pain.

• Numbness or shooting pains in the hands or feet.

• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling.

• Short-term memory loss.

• Facial palsy.

The disease could cause a person to pass out or even to need a pacemaker installed.

More severe symptoms develop 30 or more days after being bitten.

Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, typically doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil. However, some people may not feel completely recovered after treatment, according to the Department of Health.

Symptoms that continue after treatment are known as Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and is believed to be a result of tissue damage caused by Lyme disease.
Symptoms typically resolve within months with appropriate treatment.

Lyme disease can be diagnosed through a blood test.

Can you prevent Lyme disease?

The best way to avoid Lyme disease is to keep ticks from feeding on you.

And there are several ways to do that, Powell said.

Since ticks usually get Lyme disease from mice, keeping mice away from your property is a good idea. Powell said people should also discourage deer from hanging out on their property because they can also transmit the disease to ticks.

Pets should also be checked for ticks, Powell said.

When doing outdoor activities like gardening or walking in a forest, it’s a good idea to wear long sleeves and tuck pantlegs into your shoes, Powell said. Wearing light colored clothing helps make the tiny ticks easier to see.

And when you’re done with your outdoor activity, Powell added, you should do a tick check.

If you do find a tick on yourself, you should remove it as quickly as possible, Powell said.

To remove a tick, firmly grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. Wash the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol after the tick is removed.


Source: Berkshire mont

Be First to Comment

    Leave a Reply