Advertisement “Everyone should take precautions against tick bites, especially between May and August when people are more likely to be exposed,” said Dr. Seth Foldy, state health officer. “Deer ticks are often hard to see— they range from about a poppy seed to a sesame seed in size, but the tick’s size increases after feeding on its host. It is important to check yourself often for ticks, paying special attention to the head, scalp, armpit, groin and area behind the knee.”
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried by deer ticks, found in many parts of the U.S. including Wisconsin. One early symptom of Lyme disease is a characteristic “bulls-eye” rash known as erythema migrans (EM), which appears typically between 3 to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick.
The EM rash consists of a reddened area, often with a clear area in the middle, at the original site of the tick bite. The rash typically expands in size to cover a large area (usually greater than two inches) over a period of days or weeks, or may even appear in several places on other parts of the body. Most people infected with Lyme disease will develop the EM rash, but not everyone develops the skin rash.
It’s important to consult a physician immediately if you have been bitten by a deer tick and develop symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, pain in the muscles or joints, enlarged lymph nodes, or facial paralysis. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics and is treated more easily when detected early.
“Ticks actually have to bite you and remain attached for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. If you find a tick, remove it slowly and gently by using a pair of thin-bladed tweezers. Avoid folk remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish remover or burning matches — these are not safe or effective ways to remove ticks,” Foldy said.
People can take steps to avoid tick bites and reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease:
In 2008, Wisconsin had 1,487 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in comparison to an annual average of 1,348 during the previous five years. Most Lyme disease infections occurred in the northwestern and west central regions of the state. However, there have been recent increases in reported Lyme cases from the eastern regions as well.
For more information, go to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/LymeDisease/ http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/TickBorne/LymeDisease/index.htm.
