How can I protect myself and my family from ticks and Lyme Disease?
SearchDEFINITION: Lyme Disease is an infectious disease caused by a spirochete-form bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi), and was first identified in the '70's in children in Lyme, Connecticut who exhibited arthritis-like symptoms. The primary means of trans
Related QuestionsHow can I protect myself and my family against Lyme disease?
American Lyme Disease FoundationFor a detailed discussion on Lyme disease prevention, please see the Prevention and Control section of our Lyme disease page.
Related QuestionsWhat is Lyme disease?
Lyme Disease FAQLyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is classified by the World Health Organisation as an infectious or parasitic disease. Borrelia burgdorferi belongs to the bacterial genus ‘Borrelia’. These in turn are members of a larger family of bacteria called Spirochaetes.
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Do you test ticks for Lyme disease?
Untitled DocumentWe test the black legged tick, the only one in the County that is a possible vector of Lyme Disease. For more information on ticks click here.
Related QuestionsDo ticks in this area carry Lyme disease?
Last Modified Footer 2You bet they do. You should look for ticks periodically during the day and do a really good job of bathing and looking for ticks at the end of each day. Many people take their family dogs with them nowadays. The dogs need a good check also as they will transport ticks to your vehicle and home. Snakes are out, but they are not much of a threat to a person stomping around and running a chainsaw. The vast majority of snakes abhor seeing a human as much or more than a human dislikes snakes.
Related QuestionsWhat species of ticks can transmit Lyme disease to humans?
American Lyme Disease FoundationThe deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the eastern United States and its close relative the Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) on the Pacific Coast are the only tick species currently known to transmit the Lyme disease spirochete (a type of bacterium) to humans. Other tick species have been observed to harbor the spirochete but apparently cannot transmit it to their human hosts.
Related QuestionsWhat habitats do the ticks that transmit Lyme disease prefer?
American Lyme Disease FoundationDeer ticks generally wait for a passing host under leaf litter or on plant stems, leaf tips and blades of grass within three feet of the ground. They can be found in any kind of vegetation, including well-kept lawns and gardens. However, they are most likely to be in moist, wooded areas, in overgrown fields or dense underbrush, around rock walls, and especially along the edge of lawns and open areas.
Related QuestionsWhat is Lyme disease, and how is it spread?
BabiesDirect: pregnancy , pregnancies , babies , baby inform...A corkscrew-shaped microbe, Borrelia burgdorferi, causes Lyme disease. Deer ticks-small ticks that usually feed on deer, mice, and birds-carry the bacterium and spread it to humans they bite. In the U.S., most cases of Lyme disease are restricted to the northeast, the mid-Atlantic, the upper north-central states, and northwestern California. Ticks tend to live near the ground in moist, shaded areas, particularly in tall grasses, leaf litter, overgrown brush, and woody environments.
Related QuestionsWhat is the treatment for Lyme disease?
BabiesDirect: pregnancy , pregnancies , babies , baby inform...Many oral antibiotics are available to treat Lyme disease. Specific regimens are prescribed depending on the symptoms, and 75 to 80 percent of persons treated will recover from the disease. Unfortunately, before treatment some patients will develop a severe case of the disease, with tissue damage and disability. To avoid being bitten by the deer tick you should use outdoor insecticides and keep deer away from areas where children play (use an eight-foot-high or electrified fence).
Related QuestionsWhat is the Lyme disease vaccine, and how effective is it?
BabiesDirect: pregnancy , pregnancies , babies , baby inform...The Lyme disease vaccine is inactivated, being a protein piece of the microbe's cell wall. The vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1998 for persons age 15 to 70 years of age. Testing in children younger than 15 is not yet complete, so to prevent tick bites, parents should make sure their children follow the precautions listed above. Three doses of Lyme disease vaccine are needed. The first two doses are given one month apart; the third dose follows the first by 12 months.
Related QuestionsDo you have any doctors who specialize in Lyme Disease?
Frequently Asked Questions | Hill Park Medical Center | Inte...home | about Hill Park | our practitioners | services | alternative health care | resources | FAQ | contact
Related QuestionsHow does Lyme disease start?
Lyme Disease FAQA clinical case of Lyme disease occurs when a person is infected by a tick bite. Symptoms follow after an incubation period that may last between two and thirty days. However, on some occasions, the bacteria do not cause disease straight away. The bacteria can enter a phase in which they do not cause symptoms but are still present. They may still have the potential to cause active disease at a later stage.
Related QuestionsWhat are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Lyme Disease FAQLyme disease can affect any part of the body and cause many different symptoms. The commonest symptoms relate to the person feeling unwell, having flu-like symptoms, extreme tiredness, muscle pain, muscle weakness, joint pain, upset digestive system, headache, disturbances of the central nervous system and a poor sleep pattern. In some cases a characteristically shaped, expanding ‘bull’s eye’ rash appears on the skin. However, a rash in any form is not a universal symptom.
Related QuestionsHow prevalent is Lyme disease in the UK?
Lyme Disease FAQThere are in the region of 500 confirmed cases each year in the UK. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) acknowledges that confirmed cases do not necessarily reflect all the cases of the disease. HPA official estimates suggest there could be up to 2,000 new cases occurring in the UK every year. Since full recovery may not take place in many cases, the total number of people affected is accumulating.
Related QuestionsWho gets Lyme disease and Why?
Lyme Disease FAQIn the United Kingdom, Lyme disease is carried by the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus. This tick can also feed on deer and other wild mammals and birds. The tick prefers to live in woods, heath and moorland, although it does not occur exclusively in these habitats. People who live in the parts of the country where the tick is prevalent are likely to be at greater risk.
Related QuestionsIs Lyme disease a New Illness?
Lyme Disease FAQStudies of the DNA taken from ticks in the Natural History Museum show the infection was in the UK in Victorian times. Therefore, it is almost certainly not a new illness. However, it does appear to be becoming more common.
Related QuestionsIs there a test for Lyme disease?
Lyme Disease FAQThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that the diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on symptoms, physical findings and the patient’s history. There are several laboratory tests that aim to detect this infection, however, none of them are absolutely reliable. If positive they support the diagnosis.
Related QuestionsDo other diseases accompany Lyme disease?
Lyme Disease FAQSeveral other infections can sometimes be found in tick secretions. If these are also passed into the bloodstream, they too may establish and complicate the symptoms and outlook.
Related QuestionsWill my doctor treat me for Lyme disease?
Lyme Disease FAQIf you have this diagnosis your doctor should treat you. However, many doctors are not familiar with treating Lyme patients. In this case, you may do better to see a doctor who is familiar with the disease. Always try to keep your GP involved and informed. A worsening of symptoms called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction may complicate the start of treatment. This does not occur in every case but if it should occur further medical advice should be taken.
Related QuestionsCan Lyme disease be prevented?
Lyme Disease FAQThere are many measures you can take to protect yourself from ever falling victim to this nasty infection. There is however, no vaccine available at present. Prevention relies on people being aware of the risk that ticks present and using sensible measures to avoid being bitten. These measures include wearing suitable clothing and frequently checking the skin for ticks.
Related QuestionsIs there Lyme disease in Australia?
FAQsThere is some debate as to the presence of Lyme disease in Australia. Some workers believe that it is here. However, the most comprehensive tick survey undertaken in Australia to date, found no conclusive evidence for any spirochaete bacteria that may be responsible for the disease (see fact sheet on Lyme Disease for more information). If Lyme Disease is present in Australia, then that it must be very rare. (BACK)
Related QuestionsQ.5 - Is there a vaccine for Lyme disease?
Frequently asked questions - Tick Prevention WeekA.5 - No. Currently there is not enough known about the disease to allow the creation of a vaccine in the UK. The US vaccine LYMErix was used but subsequently withdrawn.
Related QuestionsCan pets get Lyme disease?
Frequently Asked QuestionsHousehold pets and domestic animals can get Lyme disease; symptoms include joint swelling and soreness, lameness, loss of appetite, and fever. There are three Lyme disease vaccines available for dogs, which can be given any time after the age of nine weeks. The vaccine is not currently available for cats. Pets can also carry ticks into the house, thereby exposing the owners to risk.
Related QuestionsCan a person contract Lyme disease more than once?
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt does seem possible for re-infection to occur once a person or animal has seemingly recovered from Lyme disease.
Related QuestionsHow do I protect myself from Lyme disease?
Winnipeg.ca-UD: Community Services: Insect Control BranchThe most common tick that people will encounter in Manitoba is the wood tick. The wood tick is not considered an effective vector of the disease as opposed to the blacklegged tick. Although the black legged tick is considered uncommon both types of ticks can be found along trail margins in tall grass, as well as wooded areas. Adult blacklegged ticks are most active in the spring and fall. When walking in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into socks, and long sleeved shirts.
Related QuestionsLyme DiseaseIf you are planning to hike in the woods, or to work or play in your yard (especially if you reside in an endemic area), follow these precautions to protect yourself from ticks: Wear long sleeve, light-colored, tightly woven fabrics. (It may be easier to see ticks on such clothing) Apply tick repellents with DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) to your clothing, shoes and socks before starting out. Be careful about spraying the repellent on your bare skin and using sprays excessively.Related Questions
