Have you ever heard of ticks?

Ticks are mites that live in woods and meadows and can infect humans and animals (warm-blooded hosts). To feed, they pierce their host’s skin and suck its blood. A tick bite is neither painful nor itchy, but the infectious diseases that ticks can transmit make them dangerous. The most feared are meningoencephalitis and Lyme disease.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recently issued a public health reminder on Lyme disease, available on their website. We invite you to read it.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium (Borrelia burgdorferi) carried by certain ticks, which then transmit it to a host by bite. This bacterium is generally found in mice, squirrels, chipmunks, shrews and other small mammals.

In humans, Lyme disease can manifest itself through a series of effects ranging from skin rashes and flu-like symptoms in mild cases, to severe symptoms affecting the joints, heart and nervous system. In most cases, the disease can be effectively treated, especially if diagnosed at an early stage.

How can I recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is very difficult to diagnose, as the first symptoms vary from person to person. Some people have no symptoms at all, while others may have severe symptoms that appear several weeks after a bite.

Symptoms may appear singly or in combination, and their intensity may vary:

• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headaches
• Spasms or weakness
• Numbness or tingling
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Skin rash

Other more serious symptoms may also appear:

• Cognitive dysfunction (mental confusion) or dizziness
• Neurological disorders
• Arthritis or arthritic symptoms (muscle and joint pain)
• Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

If left untreated, symptoms can last for months or even years. Symptoms include recurrent arthritis (muscle and joint pain) and neurological disorders. Numbness and paralysis (inability to move parts of the body) are also possible symptoms. Although not common, deaths caused by Lyme disease have been reported.

To remove a tick that has stuck (its head is embedded in the skin), follow these steps:

• Using clean tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull slowly upwards, taking care not to twist or crush the tick;
• Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite site with soap and water. You can also disinfect the wound with alcohol or hand sanitizer.
• If a piece of the tick breaks off and remains in the skin, remove it with tweezers. If this doesn’t work, consult a health care professional.
• If possible, store the tick in a zip-lock bag or pill bottle. Write the date and place of the bite on the container.
• If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease in the weeks following a bite, contact your healthcare professional immediately.

A little prevention…

The best way to protect yourself against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites. Here are some ways to protect yourself if you’re venturing into forests or brushy areas:

• Wear closed-toe shoes, as well as a sweater, long-sleeved shirt or blouse and long pants;
• Pull your socks over your pants;
• Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot;
• Use an insect repellent containing DEET (the active ingredient that repels insects) or icaridine (always follow the instructions for use);
• After an outing in the woods or walking through tall grass, check your whole body for ticks, including children and pets.

Enjoy the ride!