51社区

At the recent inaugural Infectious Diseases in Appalachian Ohio Summit at 51社区, health officials discussed the alarming increase in Lyme disease cases in Ohio. Similar increases have been observed nationally as well鈥攁ccording to the , the incidence of Lyme disease in the U.S. has approximately doubled since 1991.

Lyme disease is the most prevalent tickborne illness in Ohio and has become even more common with the increase in average ambient temperature in Ohio, which leads to increases in the state鈥檚 population of blacklegged (deer) ticks. There has been a 35-fold increase in Lyme disease cases reported in Ohio over the past 13 years, according to the (ODH). When left untreated, Lyme and other diseases carried by ticks may cause severe and life-altering health problems.

51社区 Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jeff Vasiloff has done on tickborne diseases and feels it is important for the public to be aware of these illnesses, how to prevent them and when to seek treatment. Dr. Vasiloff is part of the Division of Physician Assistant Practice in OHIO鈥檚 College of Health Sciences and Professions.

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Ticks are most often found in wooded, brushy areas, but can be anywhere outside, and are most active during the spring and summer months. The property around many homes can provide equally sufficient habitats for ticks, especially those near wooded areas or areas with tall grass. Dr. Vasiloff says anyone who spends time outdoors is at potential risk of contracting a tickborne disease.

Tickborne illnesses actually don鈥檛 originate from ticks, most are zoonoses鈥攊nfections people get from animals. Ticks acquire zoonotic diseases from feeding on infected animals, mainly rodents. These infections are often bacterial, protozoan or viral and different species of ticks carry different illnesses. In the case of Lyme disease, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi invades and lives in the salivary glands of the blacklegged tick. Carrying the disease has no effect on the tiny arachnids, but if an infected tick bites another human or animal the illness may be transferred.

Lyme disease is a reportable disease and cases are closely monitored by health departments throughout the country. Warmer temperatures in recent years have caused an increase in the blacklegged tick population, and more ticks mean more bites. In Ohio, cases of Lyme disease are every month of the year, but people are most at risk when ticks are most active in late spring through mid-summer. June and July are the months most Ohioans are actually bitten by Lyme-infected blacklegged ticks.

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Vasiloff says there is no need to panic at the discovery of a tick bite. Those who鈥檝e been bitten by a tick, even if the tick is infected, will not necessarily get sick.

鈥淚t takes a long time for them to be on you, sucking your blood to infect you,鈥� said Vasiloff. 鈥淭he tick is sucking blood into its body so it's a wonder that the bacteria ever get out of the tick because it must go against the stream of the flow of blood the opposite way. This usually doesn't happen unless the tick has been feeding for at least a day, some people even say two days.鈥�

While this may sound reassuring, every tick bite should still be taken seriously. It is crucial to remove any attached tick as soon as possible, as discussed below. Regardless of how long a tick was biting, it is best to consult a healthcare professional for possible preventive treatment as soon as possible after the tick bite. 

The best way to prevent tickborne diseases is to prevent tick bites in the first place. Wearing long clothing and tucking it in when in tick habitats may prevent most bites and keep ticks on the outside of clothing. Light-colored clothing will make ticks even easier to spot and brush off. Spraying insect repellent labeled for use against ticks on any exposed skin as well as clothing and shoes will also help keep the bugs away. To further prevent bites, Vasiloff encourages everyone to inspect their bodies carefully after finishing outdoor activities.

鈥淚f you inspect your body, you should be able to see most ticks,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to inspect yourself or your partner looking in areas you can鈥檛 see. You can't see your back, but someone else can.鈥�

Ticks on the skin that haven鈥檛 bitten can easily be brushed off. If a tick has bitten and attached itself, it is best to remove it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection. Removal is a simple process that can be done at home or urgent care. Simply take tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible then pull it away from the skin with steady even pressure, ensuring the tick鈥檚 head is completely removed. After it is removed, wash the bite area with soap and water.

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Diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, as well as any tickborne illness early is important to avoid further health problems. With Lyme disease, it can take anywhere from three to 30 days from when the tick bite occurs for symptoms or signs to appear, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Most symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease which leads to it not being suspected.  

Lyme disease symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite

Most tickborne illnesses will cause any one or more of these symptoms, but the key indicator of Lyme disease is a large, distinctive 鈥渂ull鈥檚 eye鈥� rash called erythema migrans. Vasiloff says knowing someone has the bull鈥檚 eye rash and spends time outdoors is often enough to make the diagnosis of Lyme.

鈥淚f you ever have any of the symptoms and you're somebody who goes outdoors, you should definitely report to your physician assistant, doctor or nurse practitioner,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he somewhat lucky thing is 90% of people will get a rash where the tick has bit you. It's different than just a little bite lesion, this is a bigger rash that spreads out.鈥�

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When diagnosed early, Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics like doxycycline. Most people completely recover after being treated. Treatment may become more complicated if someone doesn鈥檛 know they鈥檝e been bitten. According to Vasiloff, tick bites aren鈥檛 always noticeable and may be missed. For this reason, it is important for those who spend a lot of time outdoors to be proactive and reach out to a medical professional if any Lyme disease symptoms or rash become apparent.

鈥淵ou may get a tick bite and then it鈥檚 been on you for a couple of days, and you don鈥檛 even notice it,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd sometimes you can have a tick bite on you, be on you for a few days and it falls off and you never know.鈥�

In rare cases, those who have Lyme disease will continue to experience symptoms after treatment. Around five to 10% of people develop Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, according to the . These prolonged symptoms often include fatigue, body aches or difficulty thinking. Symptoms improve with time in most cases but may still cause considerable suffering. Post-Lyme is being extensively researched, but the cause is currently unknown.

鈥淲e can't find evidence that the bacteria is living in them and still causing damage,鈥� said Vaslioff. 鈥淏ut something has happened after the Lyme disease has been killed that leaves these people with this severe condition."