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It’s been about three years since I’ve started writing these weekly articles. I hope you’ve enjoyed them and learned something. And, I hope you’ve quit smoking, of course.

I’ve written about Lyme disease and tick bites a few times, but now its personal. How dare one of these annoying little buggers dig into my right upper arm.

A few weeks ago I joined three good friends on a bird hunting trip in northern Minnesota. The landscape was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, the camaraderie was wonderful, the dogs were amazingly skilled, the birds were plentiful and my shooting was barely acceptable.

A recipe for a great trip and it surely was. On the next to last day, my friend Bill asked for some help getting a pesky tick off of his arm, just beyond his view. I happily obliged, glad that here was an operation I could do without calling someone for pre-certification! The tick had not yet begun to fill with blood and therefore was quite unlikely to pass any disease along. The next day, having returned home, I found a tick on my own arm in almost the same place. My dear wife, Mary, got it off despite the pressure of me critiquing her surgical skill.

Let’s review what we’ve learned about ticks and Lyme disease.

Blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, can be found throughout Pennsylvania in primarily wooded areas.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can infect the joints, heart and nervous system if it’s not treated early enough.

When you return from being in or near a wooded area, it’s best to check for ticks within an hour or two. Taking a shower or bath is one way to easily check since you’ll remove clothing that could also carry ticks. If you find one, remove it using fine-tipped tweezers, rather than squeezing it or pulling it off your skin with your fingers.

Getting bitten by a tick doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll contract Lyme disease. It typically takes 36 to 48 hours for Lyme disease to be transmitted from an infected tick to a human.

If you remove the tick within this timeframe, you’re much less likely to get Lyme disease. However, if the tick is swollen and blood-filled, it’s a good idea to talk with your physician. They may choose to give you a single dose of an antibiotic called doxycycline to minimize the chance of Lyme disease developing. You should watch for signs and symptoms of Lyme disease just in case.

Early signs of Lyme disease are somewhat similar to flu symptoms: you might feel feverish or have the chills, along with aches and fatigue. However, what sets Lyme disease apart is a bulls eye rash that typically appears anywhere from three to 30 days after a bite.

Most people with Lyme disease get this bulls eye-shaped rash that gets bigger over time. If you notice this rash, visit your doctor.

If Lyme develops, other symptoms like drooping of facial muscles, called Bell’s palsy, severe headaches or a stiff neck, continued bone, joint or muscle pain, an irregular heart beat, dizziness or shortness of breath can occur.

When Lyme disease is caught in the early stages, it’s treated with antibiotics and you’re likely to make a full recovery within a few weeks. However, in a small percentage of people, symptoms can last six months or longer.

The best defense against Lyme disease is prevention. To avoid tick bites, wear pants and long sleeves if you’re taking a hike in a wooded area. Stick to the center of the trail, away from bushes and shrubs and treat your exposed skin and clothing with a repellent that contains DEET or permethrin.

So far so good with me and Bill!

Thanks for the advice, Milly!

Alfred Casale To Your Health
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_casale-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAlfred Casale To Your Health

By Alfred Casale

To Your Health

Dr. Alfred Casale is chairman of surgery for the Geisinger Heart Institute, co-director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for the Geisinger Health System and Associate Chief Medical Officer for the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Readers may write to him via [email protected].