Follow
The hot summer weather sends many people to parks or gardens to enjoy the sun and the greenery. However, there are hidden enemies in these places that we should all be aware of.
Summer is the best time for ticks to spread all over the place and look for hosts to feed on. Unless you are extremely careful you can end up bitten by one of these parasites and, before you know it, you can end up in a hospital, suffering from Lyme disease.
Authorities are warning us that the blacklegged ticks that usually cause this disease are now flourishing:
“Places like Bemidji and Grand Rapids that didn’t have a big Lyme disease problems back in the ‘90s now are a lot more in high-risk areas now,” stated the tick-borne disease specialist, Dave Nietzel, who works at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Many people are starting to be concerned about the risks they are facing whenever they take their children to parks or forests.
This is mainly due to the fact that Lyme disease has received a lot of media attention ever since the famous singer Avril Lavigne was diagnosed with it.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are far more numerous cases of Lyme disease than the ones that are actually reported.
This is why people need to be check whether they have any symptoms indicating they might be suffering from it, especially if they have been to places where they might have been bitten by such parasites. These include headaches, fever, fatigue or rashes.
The CDC also issued a list of preventive measures that we can all take before we go to parks or places where there are a lot of bushy areas. It is best to spots places that might be infected. Nevertheless, if we choose to go there anyway, we should use repellents and wear clothes that cover our body as much as possible.
Furthermore, you need to check whether there are any ticks on your body and make sure you examine your children and your pets. If you do find a tick that is already in the skin, use sharp tweezers to remove it very carefully and make sure you dispose of it properly, without attempting to crush it with your fingers.
The bacteria usually takes up to 48 hours to spread so you need to detect the parasite as quickly as possible. If left untreated, the bacteria can cause very severe symptoms and it can affect the brain, the nerves and even your heart. About 5 percent of the untreated patients suffer from chronic neurological symptoms.
Image Source: lymedisease
