The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently announced a surge in vectorborne diseases in the United States. From 2004 to 2016, diseases spread by mosquito, flea and tick bites tripled, with Lyme disease accounting for 82 percent of cumulative reported tickborne diseases.
“Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported nationwide, while studies suggest the actual number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is more likely about 300,000,” the CDC announced.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (or deer ticks), which must generally be attached for 36 to 48 hours before they can transmit the Lyme disease bacterium.
The risk of exposure to ticks is greatest in the woods, where they populate the leaf litter on the forest floor and the tips of grasses and shrubs. Ticks may also be carried by animals (such as deer) onto lawns and gardens, as well as into homes by pets.
Learn how to protect yourself from Lyme disease this summer with these tips
Avoid tick-infested areas, especially during the months of May, June and July. Certain states have areas where infected ticks are common.
Use insect repellant that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin. Clothing (as well as tents and some camping gear) may be treated with permethrin. Many natural products may also be used to repel or kill ticks.
Perform tick checks after being outdoors, including in your yard. Removing a tick quickly (within 24 hours), greatly reduces your chances of getting Lyme disease. Remove attached ticks using fine-point tweezers and cleanse the area with an antiseptic. When performing a tick check, always check under the armpits, in the hair, behind the knees and in the groin area.
Create a tick-safe zone through landscaping to make your yard less attractive to ticks.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to rinse off any ticks that may be crawling on your skin.
Tumble dry clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes after coming indoors to kill any ticks that may be attached to clothing.
Learn more about preventing tick bites.
Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease
Early Lyme disease (days to weeks) is usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms:
- Erythema migrans (bull’s eye) skin rash
- Fatigue
- Chills and fever
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
Treatment
Several antibiotics are effective for treating Lyme disease, and patients treated in the early stages of infection usually experience rapid and complete recovery. Timing is crucial in the treatment of Lyme disease. If you recently visited a place likely to have ticks and you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, reach out to your physician immediately.
If seeing your primary care physician is not possible, consider using Virtual Visits or visiting an urgent care center to receive lower out-of-pocket cost medical care than you would at the emergency room. Use Castlight* to compare prices and read patient reviews for doctors and medical services.
Learn more about Lyme disease, and how to prevent it, with this handy brochure created by the CDC.
*Free for GW employees and their spouses and adult dependents covered under a university medical plan.
