There’s nothing better than spending time outdoors now that the weather is heating up, but keep in mind we’re heading into peak Lyme season. While it commonly occurs from spring through the fall, June, July, and August are prime months for Lyme in the Northeast, with cases steadily rising over the past 25 years. According to the CDC, about 300,000 people get Lyme disease yearly. Best to get informed and use preventative measures, instead of becoming another statistic.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
Pearl: Co-infections, like Babesia and Bartonella, are common tick borne bacteria that often travel with Borrelia.
How can I get Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is most commonly transmitted through the bite of black-legged deer ticks that carry Borrelia burgdorferi. The longer the tick is attached, the greater the chance of an infected tick transmitting Lyme. It is uncommon for the disease to be transmitted when the tick is attached for less than 24 hours, but the risk is not zero.
Pearl: You usually don’t feel the bitebecause the tick saliva numbs the skin. Smart little buggers!
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Acute Lyme disease symptoms usually occur between 3 and 30 days after a tick bite. Symptoms can include fatigue, a flu-like illness, swollen lymph nodes, paralysis of the facial nerve, and the tell-tale bullseye-shaped rash. Many people don’t get or notice the classic rash--in fact, it shows up in less than 20% of cases. Chronic Lyme symptoms may include arthritis, fatigue, cardiac issues, immune dysregulation, and neurologic symptoms including cognitive dysfunction and memory impairment.
Pearl: Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria can infect any part of the body and produce a wide range of symptoms, mimicking symptoms of many different diseases, earning its nickname, “the great imitator.” (Syphilis is the other great imitator. Entirely different prevention strategy there...)
How do I know if I have Lyme disease?
Diagnosing Lyme disease is tricky. Laboratory testing for Lyme disease is fraught with accuracy and reliability issues, and Lyme disease can affect a person’s ability to mount an immune response that a lab test would look for. The diagnosis is a clinical one. It takes into account medical history, signs and symptoms, and tick exposure risk.
Pearl: Got flu-like symptoms during summer time in a Lyme endemic area like New Jersey? Think Lyme disease.
How can I prevent Lyme disease?
Create a barrier to the ticks by wearing protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks, and a wide brimmed hat to protect your scalp. Bug repellent definitely has a place in prevention of tick borne disease. The Environmental Working Group is a great place to look. Clothes can be pre-treated with a bug repellent as well.
Walk in the center of trails and avoid heavily wooded areas. These ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, waiting to attach to their next unsuspecting meal. Shower after being out in the woods, making sure to check your body for ticks. They especially like creased areas--armpits, groin, back of knees, hairline, behind the ears. But look carefully, since the deer-legged ticks can be as small as a poppyseed when nymphs and and more like a sesame seed as an adult. And don’t forget to check your pets as well. Animals can bring ticks into our yards and living space.
Keeping our immune system in balance helps our bodies fight off infections. A diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables supplies our bodies with nutrients and anti-oxidants needed to support immune function. Vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids help immunity, too. Keeping inflammation down in our bodies is also key to having a properly functioning immune system.
Pearl: As always, prevention is the best medicine. It’s fabulous to go outdoors and get some sunshine (hello Vitamin D!), just do so keeping Lyme precautions in mind.
