Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. The infection is transmitted by tick bites. It takes between 3 and 32 days to feel the first symptoms of the disease from the moment the tick bites you.
The early phase of Lyme disease can sometimes be without any symptoms and people affected by this disease turn to doctors only when the late manifestations occur.
The widespread hotspots and the growing trend make this disease one of the most significant epidemiological problem in the US and in the world.
The disease occurs in all age groups. The largest number of cases is reported between May and July although ticks can be active throughout the year is there are favorable climatic factors.
Lyme disease is characterized with many different symptoms. For example, circular rash is one of the most common ones.
Redness on the skin, fever, dizziness, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain are some other symptoms associated with Lyme disease.
As you can see the consequences can be very unpleasant, so it is the best idea to take some steps to protect yourself.
Protect Yourself from Lyme Disease
The following is a list of things that can help you protect yourself from Lyme disease.
1. One of The first things that can help you avoid ticks and Lyme disease is to become aware of the typical habitat of these insects. For example, areas where the grass is tall, yards with dense grass, parks, forests, meadows, green areas in cities and towns.
2. It is very important to wear clothes with bright colors that cover the arms and legs whenever you are planning to visit the aforementioned areas.
3. When you are staying in nature, it is highly recommended to carefully inspect yourself and your children. You should perform the same procedure once you return home. It is good to know that ticks can be brought to your home with your clothes or with your pets.
4. Another good way to protect yourself from ticks and Lyme disease is to apply bug repellent or products against insect bites which can protect you for several hours. Make sure to find a product that lists ticks as one of the insects. There are also certain natural homemade repellents, so you can try them too.
5. In case you’ve noticed a tick on your body, don’t try to remove it on your own or treat it with the use of certain oils, gels, solutions and the like, but ask for expert assistance in your local health center. If you have no experience with ticks, there is a good chance that the lip part of the tick will stay in the skin and the things can get even more complicated because you will have to visit the doctor on a regular basis for about a month.
Only early conducted treatment under medical supervision and appropriate antibiotics is effective and prevents the occurrence of late complications. The therapy is conducted with penicillin products and lasts ten days.
