Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a tick infected with the corkscrew-shaped bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is one of the fastest emerging infectious diseases in North America and unfortunately one that may be hard to diagnose.
If you know you have been bitten by a tick, you should remove it carefully. You can pull a tick out yourself if you’re careful. Using a pair of fine-pointed tweezers and a steady hand, grasp the tick’s mouth parts, not the body, and slowly pull it straight out. Many outdoor stores also sell tick removal tools.
Then watch for symptoms. Fifty percent of people infected with Lyme develop what’s known as a bull’s-eye rash. The first physical signs of Lyme disease are often flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, headaches and congestion. Other symptoms include:
• Muscle twitching, pain or cramps
• Stiff or painful neck or jaw
• Double or blurry vision
• Eye pain or swelling
• Extreme fatigue Continue reading “Protecting Yourself Against Lyme Disease”
Read More