My Doctor is fantastic. Her Norwood, MA group is serious about disease prevention. I received this letter and helpful links regarding Lyme disease from a medical providers point of view.
Spring has arrived! As April showers begin to wash away that long & frigid winter, Mother Nature will bring about new ways to keep New Englanders on their toes. No, we aren't talking about those brisk mornings that make it nearly impossible to choose between hot or iced coffee. We're talking about ticks!
Tick bites are a hot topic at this office during spring and fall, with "prime" tick season falling between late spring and early summer. To help prepare you for the season, we've answered some of your frequently asked questions relating to tick bites and Lyme Disease.
Please remember that we are always available during office hours to answer your questions. We appreciate your confidence in us as your primary care team!
Wishing you a happy & healthy spring season,
Brigham & Women's Primary Care Associates at Norwood
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme Disease is an illness caused by a tick-borne bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms of Lyme Disease can begin anywhere from 3 days to 1 month after a person is bitten by an infected deer tick. Symptoms may include a red, ring-shaped rash around the bite (also known as a bull's eye rash), fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle/joint pain. Although Lyme Disease is rarely life-threatening, it should be treated with antibiotics to avoid lasting joint or nerve damage. (CDC, 2016).
How do ticks spread Lyme Disease?
The bacteria that cause Lyme Disease can be transferred to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick. Ticks do not fly or jump- they wait on low-growing plants in wooded & grassy areas for a host (person or animal) to pass by. When a host brushes up against it, the tick will cling to fur or clothing and crawl upward in search of a place to attach and begin feeding. (DPH, 2012).
How can I avoid tick bites?
One of the easiest ways to avoid tick bites is to avoid tick-infested areas from May - July. If you are in a tick-infested area, walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass and brush.
Another way you can protect yourself from tick bites is to use insect repellent containing at least 20% DEET on clothes and exposed skin. When in tick-infested areas, wear long pants and sleeves to reduce areas of exposed skin. Performing daily, full-body skin checks and showering as soon as possible after being outdoors may help you identify and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you. Doing daily skin checks during tick season can prevent Lyme, as then the ticks will not have been able to attach themselves for long enough to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. (CDC, 2016).
What should I do if I am bitten by a tick?
Remove attached ticks with tweezers immediately. Ticks generally need to be attached to the body for more than 24 hours before they can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, so early tick removal and a significantly reduced risk of infection. (DPH, 2012).
Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin's surface as possible. Pull the tick's body away from your skin with steady, even pressure. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap & water. If tick mouthparts remain in the skin, leave them alone. In most cases, they will fall out in a few days. (CDC, 2016).
When should I call my primary care office?
If you are bitten by a deer tick that may have been attached to your skin for more than 24 hours, please make an appointment to be seen at our office or visit a local urgent care center within 72 hours of discovering the tick bite.
If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your provider. Be sure to tell your provider when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick. Your primary care provider will need to examine you and may order some diagnostic lab testing. Lyme Disease is treated with antibiotics; and patients generally make a rapid & complete recovery when treated in the early stages of infection. (CDC, 2016).
Lyme disease: What You Need to Know:
Lyme disease prevention fact sheet for outdoor workers:
How to Do a Tick Check:
How to Remove a Tick (and lots of other great resources):
CDC. (2016, August 19). Lyme Disease. Retrieved March 29, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/