Tick Information
Tick Information
Dangers of Ticks
Ticks pose a significant health risk to both humans and pets. These small, blood-sucking parasites can transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. When enjoying outdoor activities, especially in grassy or wooded areas, it's essential to take precautions to avoid tick bites.
Health Risks
- Lyme Disease: A bacterial infection that can cause severe joint pain, neurological issues, and heart problems if left untreated.
- Anaplasmosis: An illness causing fever, headache, muscle pain, and chills.
- Babesiosis: A malaria-like disease that can lead to hemolytic anemia and other serious health problems.
- Alpha-gal Syndrome: Alpha-gal syndrome is caused by the bite of an infected lone star tick. Alpha-gal syndrome can cause a potentially life threatening allergy to red meat and dairy. Symptoms don’t begin until 3 to 6 hours after eating meat. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
- Ehrlichiosis: Ehrlichiosis is a group of diseases caused by bacteria transmitted by the bite of an infected lone star or blacklegged tick. Signs and symptoms typically may begin within 5–14 days after the bite of an infected tick. Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms.
- Powassan Virus: Powassan virus is caused by the bite of an infected black legged or deer tick. Symptoms may develop in 1-4 weeks. Powassan can cause serious health complications if not treated. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Prevention Tips
- Use Insect Repellent: Apply repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or permethrin. Spraying Permethrin on shoes, clothes and gear. Picaridin and insect repellants with 20% DEET can be used on skin.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Long sleeves, pants, and light-colored clothing can help keep ticks at bay and make them easier to spot.
- Stay on Trails: Avoid walking through tall grass and brush.
- Check for Ticks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks.
Tick Removal
If you find a tick attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease specifically refers to illness contracted by a tick bite transmitting bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. There are multiple sub species of Borrelia and 100s of strains known to produce different symptoms.
What is a “co-infection” ?
Other organisms (bacterium and/or parasites), often accompany the same tick bite delivering Lyme disease. Some of these organisms cause serious “co-infections,” and do not respond to the traditional Lyme medications and may require additional or different treatment.
Why is Lyme Disease so difficult to diagnose and treat?
There is no simple answer to this question. Scientists around the globe continue to uncover new strains of Lyme (BB) and other co-infections, complicating the ability to identify and or eradicate invasive organisms with 100% accuracy.
The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) have published recommendations for diagnosing and treating Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi), as well as identifying the possible causes of relapsing or persistent symptoms. Presently there is not full consensus between the two organizations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adding to the confusion in addressing this public health crisis.
Lyme is referred to as the “great imitator,” often mimicking other illnesses. When discussing the likelihood of Lyme (or a Lyme co-infection) with your health care practitioner, understand that he/she may be wedded to one possible diagnosis and treatment, depending on his/her professional exposure.
Testing ?
The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that the ELISA antibody test, the first of a two step testing protocol, can give a false positive or negative, as it can “take a few weeks before a person's immune system creates measurable levels of antibodies.” Even more controversial is reporting from The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) claiming the standard ELISA Lyme screening test “misses 35% of culture-proven Lyme disease.”
The Western Blot, a second test in a two-step protocol, also has limitations identifying this complicated disease and the associated co-infections caused by organisms such as Babesia and Anaplasma (most common).
Specialty labs such as IGenex, offer more comprehensive and sensitive testing for Lyme and associated co-infections. Galaxy Diagnostics is another specialty lab best known for identifying Bartonella, a co-infection transmitted by ticks and fleas.
It is important to note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend or endorse all of the tests being used to diagnose Lyme and associated co-infections.
Prevention
TickEncounter is a leading national health resource center at the University of Rhode Island, providing tick-bite education and prevention starting with these 5 "TickSmart" steps.
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