Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
With the onset of spring many people start outdoor activities. Camping is popular among families as an inexpensive way to spend a weekend.
"Spring thaw" also brings out another creature: ticks.
Some ticks, commonly called deer ticks, live in wooded areas and other places where deer are common. These ticks are known to spread Lyme disease.
Lyme disease causes flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, chills and fever, and often produces a "bulls-eye" rash.
The rash is usually shaped like a reddish-colored doughnut or ring surrounding the bite location. It appears in most cases of Lyme disease, but its shape and color can vary.
The rash and flu-like symptoms may disappear after seven to 10 days but the disease can still be present.
Once a person is diagnosed as having Lyme disease, doctors begin treatment as soon as possible. The standard treatment for early stages is antibiotics. This treatment can last from three to four weeks and will usually clear up the disease with no side effects.
In later stages of Lyme disease severe inflammation of the heart muscle or nervous system may develop. This causes heart problems, meningitis and severe migratory pains. The typical treatment in this stage, which lasts from two to three weeks, is intravenous medication.
In rare cases, chronic arthritis and neurological damage may occur. In this late stage of Lyme disease the method of treatment is month-long intravenous medication.
There are no known vaccines for Lyme disease.
The only way to contract Lyme disease is to be bitten by a deer tick. The best way to prevent Lyme disease is not to be bitten.
Sound simple?
Maybe not. The deer tick is the size of a pinhead, making it very difficult to see.
And despite the name, deer ticks often live on other animals besides deer.
So, with the family out walking through the woods, camping and fishing this spring, it would be best to follow a few precautions.
Sleeping inside a tent is relatively safe. It is best, however, to perform routine body checks to make sure there are no ticks before entering the tent.
A fine-toothed comb comes in handy when trying to locate ticks in the hair. It's also a good idea to check the scalp twice a day.
The most common places for ticks to bite are the legs and feet. Wearing long pants and sealing the pant legs with either tape or sturdy rubber bands is an effective way to prevent the tick from crawling up and attaching itself to the legs. High boots are often recommended as well.
Using a repellent that contains a chemical known as DEET is effective, but keep the chemical away from the face.
If it's too late and a tick is attached to the skin, it may be removed in one of several ways. The best way is to grasp its head area, as close to the skin as possible, and pull slowly and steadily until it is freed.
Other methods for removing ticks include using heat to coax the tick into removing itself or coating the area, and the tick, with petroleum jelly or nail polish.
The idea behind the coating method is to suffocate the tick. It will then either remove itself or die. Then it can be easily removed from the skin.
Some reports have indicated that the heat and coating methods should not be used to remove a tick.
Bob Weaver, of the Kosciusko County Board of Health, said, "Any way to get him out of there is OK."
Even though the bull's-eye rash appears in two-thirds of those infected, during the spring season it is a good idea to have any unusual rash inspected by a physician, especially if flu-like symptoms appear.
