Lyme Disease and Ticks

The month of May is Lyme disease awareness month, and marks the prime season to take precautions and be extra-diligent about ticks.  

Most prevalent during the spring to fall months, ticks remain active year-round; in the winter, snow acts as an insulator for ticks, which allows them to survive.  

One of many misconceptions is that humans will only find ticks at the parks or on the hiking trails. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that most “tick encounters” occur while playing or working in your own back yard.    

According to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), young ticks, the size of a poppy seed, and adult ticks, the size of a sesame seed, are active at different times from March to November, and both can transmit Lyme disease. Roughly, one out of every five young ticks, or nymphs, and one out of every two adult ticks could transmit Lyme disease.  

The National Institute of Health (NIH) states that Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the U.S., which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick with Borrelia burgdorferi. Often referred to as “The Great Imitator,” Lyme’s symptoms mimic other diseases and can affect all areas in the body.  

For reported Lyme disease cases in the U.S., the CDC considers New York a “high incidence state,” and for 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, cdc.gov publicized 3,252 cases in the state. Pennsylvania also consistently ranks at the top of the list.

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) communicated in November 2015 that many Lyme disease cases remain undiagnosed which, in turn, results in underreporting. New York Senator Sue Serino (R-41), and the mother of a child with Lyme, is Chair of the Senate Task Force on Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and continually advocates for advanced research, education and awareness.

Awareness and education includes protecting yourself. The CDC recommends checking yourself every day; ticks like to hide behind ears, on the scalp and in armpits and the groin.   

While outside, wear long sleeves and pants, socks and shoes that cover your entire foot. The CDC also suggests you throw the clothes you wore outside in the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 20 minutes. Stubborn ticks don’t drown in the wash cycle, although putting clothes first through a high-heat drying cycle can kill them before going through the wash cycle.

The CDC recommends spraying DEET repellents on exposed skin and clothing; although many groups promote that a better option is to spray permethrin on clothing instead, and for exposed skin, organic tick sprays are best.

To learn how to remove ticks, the NYSDOH suggests you check out the video, “Don’t Freak out about Ticks” at: www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/lyme/health.ny.gov.  

Showering right away after outdoor activities and inspecting promptly is the general rule of thumb. Ticks are easy to miss, so it’s also a good idea to have a friend or family member help inspect, too.

Most sources state that removing ticks within 24 to 36 hours should limit further risk, however the sooner the better and it’s also important to monitor the bite site for a minimum of 30 days. Not everyone gets the bulls-eye rash that can accompany a Lyme-infected tick bite, but if you develop flu-like symptoms and/or joint pain, contact a health professional promptly.

It is also advised to remove tick habitat such as leaf piles and shrubs, as well as change your yard landscape to deter mice, deer and other animals and rodents that carry ticks.  

Last year, the Owego Pennysaver featured Tioga County resident Brenda Ferguson’s journey with chronic Lyme disease since 2014. Like many, Ferguson does not recall a tick bite or rash, and was diagnosed with co-infections called Babesia and Bartonella.  

Today, by eating clean and continuing most of her medication regimen, Ferguson is back to a more normal weight, but her fight against chronic Lyme continues. Unable to work and currently experiencing days where she can hardly walk, along with various other symptoms, she cannot afford the out-of-pocket cost of chronic Lyme treatment.

Ferguson continues to travel three hours one-way to an LLMD (Lyme Literate Doctor) in Rhinebeck, N.Y., but she’s had to cut back on those visits, too.

“I take what’s most important right now,” Ferguson said, adding, “And I’ve had to spread out my doctor visits.”

Chronic Lyme cases and Lyme disease creates an unwelcome new normal for patients; an emotional toll that affects all aspects of regular life and relationships. 

And that is where groups like the Southern Tier Lyme Support Group (STLS) have stepped up to help educate and raise awareness for the public and healthcare professionals. The third annual Lyme Conference hosted by STLS is scheduled for Saturday, April 29 at Binghamton University.

A free event open to the public, the conference runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with doors open until 7 p.m. Ferguson suggests that if you have limited time, consider attending the afternoon presentations featuring LLMD’s, which start shortly after noon.   

For additional information and to register for the event, visit www.southerntierlymesupport.org.

Ferguson recommends that pet owners regularly check their pets and use tick prevention products and also speak to their veterinarians about a Lyme vaccine for dogs.

For additional information about Lyme disease, a number of websites are available at www.ilads.org, www.lymediseaseassociation.org, www.cdc.gov, www.health.ny.gov or www.aldf.com.