EDITORIAL: Don鈥檛 get 鈥榯ick鈥檈d off
Sunshine and warmer temperatures mean more time outside, but a pest about the size of a sesame seed can bring a halt to the summer fun and have a potentially lifelong impact.
Lyme disease, transmitted by a tiny deer tick, can affect both humans and their furry friends.
While ticks can attach themselves any time of the year, the warmer months are prime time to get bitten.
Nearly half of the 16,605 tick bites that led to Lyme disease in the state occurred between June and August last year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which noted our state ranks first in the U.S. for the number of cases reported.
The little buggers burrow into the skin, sometimes hiding behind ears or in the hair, sometimes going unnoticed until they fall off. That’s why experts say it’s so important to thoroughly check your body when you come in from outside and immediately remove any ticks you see.
Symptoms of Lyme disease typically show up between three and 30 days after a bite. One of the telltale signs can be a rash that looks like a bullseye.
The bacterial infection also causes fever, headache and fatigue, and untreated Lyme disease can spread throughout the body, affecting the joints, heart and nervous system.
Dogs are also susceptible to Lyme disease, though only 5% to 10% of them go on to develop symptoms, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
It takes dogs between two and five months to show signs of illness, and by that time, the disease may have spread throughout their bodies.
The most common signs are limping or lameness, fever, loss of appetite, decreased activity, swollen lymph nodes and painful, swollen joints. A small percentage of dogs develop kidney disease.
The good news is that there are ways to significantly lessen the risk for both humans and dogs.
Fifi and Fido can benefit from a tick vaccine, treatment or collar that repels the pests. Their owners can treat clothing and gear with tick repellants, and if possible, both you and your dog should avoid wooded areas and those with high grass and leaves on the ground.
Find one on you despite taking precautions?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible while pulling away with steady even pressure. The tick can be sealed in a container, flushed or put in alcohol.
All these small, preventative measures can potentially make a big difference in long-term health for you and your dog.
Now, go out and enjoy the summer.