Reginia Dodson | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

What is Lyme disease? According to the Centers for Disease Control, Lyme Disease is caused by the transmission of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The transmission of this disease most often occurs from the bite of the black-legged tick. The disease itself includes symptoms such as fever, headaches, fatigue, difficulty in thinking, and a rash. (CDC). However, it can be treated with the use of antibiotics. Some people that are infected with Lyme Disease often have a delayed infection even after the bite of a tick. The disease itself is normally detected later because people that have been infected symptoms seem more like mild flu symptoms and these delays in identifying Lyme Disease.

There are several ways to protect yourself from getting bitten by ticks. Some preventative measures include wearing clothing to cover your arms and legs, checking your body regularly for ticks, and use repellents containing DEET when going in wooded areas on outdoor activities, protect pets from ticks by giving them monthly doses of flea and tick medications, and check their bodies regularly when they come from outdoor excursions.

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to remove a tick:

· Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

· Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.

· After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

· Dispose of a live tick by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.

Outdoor activities can be enjoyed relatively safely with these measures in place for protection. It is summer enjoying the sunshine and getting in some physical activity outside is a great way to maintain optimal health.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022a, January 19). Lyme disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html