Robyn's Nest-The Parenting Network

It's Tick Season: 'Protect and Check' and Get Educated

(Hartford, CT-May 2003)
Spring has arrived, and coupled with the excitement of enjoying the warm weather outdoors is the need to take precautions against getting bitten by ticks hungry for their first blood meal.

"It's going to be a bad year. The heavy snow over the winter protected the ticks from freezing temperatures, and the spring thaw is providing the moist habitat they need to thrive," said Karen Forschner, chair of the national Lyme Disease Foundation (LDF). "People need to take precautions."

Taking precautions is not only important to prevent Lyme disease, which usually begins with flu-like symptoms sometimes accompanied with an expanding rash that occurs days to weeks after a tick bite. Ticks can also transmit a myriad of other diseases that are increasing in prevalence and spreading geographically across the country.

Because of this, the LDF encourages people to send the organization a self-addressed, business sized, stamped envelope to obtain information about ticks and the various types of diseases they carry, some of which are potential biowarfare pathogens.

"Ticks are cesspools that can transmit multiple pathogens through a single bite, complicating diagnosis and treatment," said Ms. Forschner, author of the newly updated book, Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Disorders (Wiley & Sons). "There is no question additional tick-borne diseases will continue be identified as science …continues to progress."

Ms. Forschner said evidence continues to mount that black-legged "deer" ticks are carrying and transmitting to humans bartonella, a condition commonly referred to as "cat scratch disease." Like Lyme disease, its symptoms can include cognitive dysfunction, headache and fatigue, but its treatment requires different antibiotics than those effective against Lyme. These ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and the less common powassan encephalitis.

Ms. Forschner also cautions that it is not only "deer" ticks that are responsible for tick-spread diseases. Ticks found throughout the U.S. such as the Lone star tick and the dog tick also transmit diseases. Lone star ticks, which can be found along the entire East Coast and as far west as Texas, transmit Masters' (Lyme-like) disease, ehrlichiosis, tularemia and spotted fever. Dog ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis.

It is especially important that the medical community is aware of the numerous tick-borne diseases and considers them as a diagnosis when patients present with compatible symptoms.

"Tick-borne illnesses must be considered when patients present with symptoms that include fever, malaise, headache, and aches and pain," said Dr. Lesley Fein, a physician and researcher specializing in tick-born diseases. "These are the initial symptoms commonly associated with all tick-borne disorders."

Since there are no vaccines that protect against tick-borne diseases, the LDF urges people to PROTECT AND CHECK to avoid contracting tick-bites, Ms. Forschner said.

This includes doing visual inspections for ticks periodically while outdoors and conducting a full body exam upon returning indoors. (Parents should assist children.)

To further reduce the risk of acquiring a tick-bite, the LDF recommends taking the following steps:

Avoid tick-infested areas and sitting on the ground. Stay in the middle of paths.
Dress in light-colored clothes so ticks are more visible on your body. Wear long sleeve shirts with shirt tucked into pants and pants tucked into socks so ticks have difficulty getting on the skin.
Apply EPA-approved tick repellants on clothes and exposed skin.
Obtain free LDF brochures on tick-spread disease. (Bulk quantities of are available for purchase.)

Properly remove a tick from people and animals to prevent infection.

On June 7-8, the LDF holds its Annual International Scientific Conference at the Hartford Sheraton in East Hartford, CT. The conference will discuss new developments on testing and treatments of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, recently identified tick-borne pathogens and bioterrorism issues.

The LDF is the premier scientific nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions to tick-borne disorders. Founded in 1988, the LDF focuses on education, research, and advocacy nationwide. With close ties to the international scientific community, the LDF is the leader in the fight for solutions to LD.

Lyme Disease Foundation educates hundreds of thousands of people annually through media campaigns and distribution of educational materials (including award-winning videos) that are distributed free across the U.S. For more information log on to www.lyme.org

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Robyn's Nest ~ Lyme Disease 2003 Update