What Is Lyme Disease?

May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month! Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that spreads by bite from an infected Borrelia burgdorferi, otherwise known as deer ticks. These arachnids become infected with the bacteria after feeding on other infected animals. This disease continues to be a pressing health concern that affects individuals all around the world. By raising awareness and information about Lyme disease, we can allow individuals to recognize its symptoms, implement preventative measures, and support all of those who are affected.

Symptoms

Lyme disease can be identified by a couple of common symptoms. A few of these might include:

• A bull's eye patterned rash (erythema migrans)
• Joint pain
• Weakness in limbs
• Fever
• Headaches

It's important to catch these symptoms early on to allow them to be easier to treat. Lyme disease is diagnosed through lab testing and treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. If left untreated, it progresses into more severe stages with further detrimental conditions and symptoms. It's crucial to be aware of the common symptoms associated with Lyme disease and to seek medical attention if you suspect tick exposure.

Prevention

It's even more essential to understand specific prevention measures that should be taken to keep you safe from ticks and Lyme disease. At Pure Solutions, we take pride in protecting our customers against tick-borne illnesses through our tick and mosquito control service. It is a completely organic, all-natural, sustainable process that is not harmful to your family or pets. Our treatment relies on natural and non-toxic techniques to control pest populations and create a balanced ecosystem where pets and their predators can coexist without causing damage to crops or the environment. Pure Solutions' methods are more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run as they don't rely on the continuous application of destructive chemicals that can impair the environment and pollute our water sources.

Although our company's service is the best option, here are a few other precautions you can take to prevent Lyme disease:

1. Insect repellent (DEET)
2. Proper and prompt tick removal
3. Checking for ticks on your body after walking or camping
4. Wearing long-sleeved clothing and closed-toe shoes
5. Reducing tick habitat
   

Tick Removal

It's necessary to take certain precautions to remove a latched tick to prevent the mouth parts from being still stuck in your skin. This could lead to infection and inflammation. Here are the proper steps needed to safely remove a tick:

1. Use clean tweezers to grasp the tick. Try to grab it as close to your skin's surface as possible to make sure you get the entire body of the tick.
2. Pull upward with even, steady pressure. Make sure not to twist or jerk! This can cause mouth parts to break off and remain in your skin. If you see this happen, you can remove it after with your tweezers.
3. Clean the bite area with soap and water or even alcohol.
4. Dispose of the tick using safety measures. It may be tempting to squish the tick in between your fingers, but never do this because it can increase your risk of infection. You can dispose of it by placing it in alcohol, putting it in a sealed bag, or flushing it down the toilet.
5. Follow up with your doctor about your recent bite! It's important to make sure that there is no infection and that everything went smoothly.

Lyme Disease Statistics

• Around 1 in 3 people with Lyme disease won't develop a rash.
• A rash usually develops 3 to 30 days after you've been bitten.
• You're more likely to become infected if the tick is attached to your skin for more than 24 hours.
• The number of people diagnosed each year has climbed to approximately half a million.
  
  

Interested in learning even more about how our services can prevent Lyme disease? Get in touch!

Sources

“Lyme Disease.” NHS Inform, www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/lyme-disease. Accessed 18 May 2023. 

“Lyme Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 Jan. 2022, www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html#:~:text=Lyme%20disease%20is%20caused%20by,skin%20rash%20called%20erythema%20migrans. 

“Lyme Disease Facts and Statistics.” Bay Area Lyme Foundation, 21 July 2022, www.bayarealyme.org/about-lyme/lyme-disease-facts-statistics/.