Lime Disease

What is Lyme disease and how do you get it?

Symptom(s):

Bits of the deer tick have been known to cause Lyme disease.  Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, the disease initially develops as an oblong rash, usually 2 or more inches in size, with a clear center that develops at the site of the tick bite.  However, only 70% of people develop this symptom. Within two days to a few weeks later people usually develop flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache, fever, and general stiffness of the neck joints. Chronic symptoms of a small percentage of untreated people include arthritis and nervous system complications. In Virginia , about 125 cases per year are reported, mainly from the eastern and central parts of the state.

Cause(s):

An infected tick must be attached for at least 24 hours in order to transmit the disease organism to the host.

Solution(s):

If you do find a tick on your body, remove it as soon as possible. The best way to remove a tick is with a pair of fine-point tweezers. Grasp the tick by the head or mouthparts exactly where they enter the skin. Without jerking or twisting, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. Tick removal will take time, so be patient. Avoid touching the tick with bare fingers - use a tissue or glove to prevent disease transfer.

Do not squeeze the tick's body or use Vaseline, a hot match, alcohol, or any other irritant in an attempt to kill or remove the tick. These methods will actually cause the tick to regurgitate, increasing the risk of infection from the bacteria located in the tick's head.

Once the tick has been removed, place it in a vial or jar of alcohol to kill it. Label the jar with the date, body location where the tick was attached, and location where it may have been picked up. This information may be helpful to a doctor if signs of disease occur. Clean the bite wound with an antiseptic such as witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or iodine.

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