Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again, when I put on my superhero cape, I ascend to the top of the highest mountain, and at the top of my lungs say these three words: CHECK FOR TICKS! It’s prime time for Lyme disease, once again!
Lyme disease, most prevalent in the Northeast, has now been reported in all lower 48 states. It’s a particularly problematic disease because the symptoms mimic many other illnesses, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The CDC stated that it receives more than 30,000 reports of Lyme, but that number is believed to be much higher. Surprisingly, boys between the ages of five through nine are most at risk.
The warning signs are a bull’s eye rash or a reddish oval, flu-like symptoms, but the main red flag is the symptoms come and go. And not everyone will have the same symptoms. For example, while some may have the famous bull’s eye rash, at least 20-30% of people infected will not.
So, if you have these ever changing symptoms, talk to your doctor about Lyme, and available treatments.
Tick bites are not always easy to avoid, especially if you have pets. Your dog can carry the little hitchhikers right into your home–so for those of us who are not one with nature (some of us really do like skyscrapers and concrete, you know…) we have to be careful, too. I regularly take my own advice and check for ticks. The only time I ever found one on my body, I ended up with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Yay me.
A recent study in Europe examined the benefits of long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme sufferers and their findings concluded there was no particular benefit. Many people and their doctors are convinced that Lyme causes continuous infection, while others are not so sure. What do you think?
