A few weeks ago I attended a mini-convention for Builders Club and K-Kids with many parents in attendance. While at the convention one of the K-Kids asked me, "can I die from Lyme disease"?
When you are asked a question like that by a young person you must be very careful with the answer but must tell the truth. So I said, it is possible, but don't panic. The risk of developing chronic Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is three percent. On top of that, it takes at least 24 to 48 hours for the tick to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. However, to be safe, though, you will want to have your parents remove the tick as soon as possible. This is why a daily tick check is a good idea for people who live, work, or play in high-risk areas, and that is why I gave all Builders Club and K-Kids members and parents a Tick Kit to take home.
Then I was asked, if I find a tick what should I do? That I found to be an easier question to answer. I told them to have your parents call your doctor and save the tick after removing it with the tick kit that I gave you so it can be determined if it's the type that can carry Lyme disease.
I also told them to have their parents put the tick in the container that came with the tick kit to preserve it. Have your parents use the tweezers in the tick kit to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin. They should pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the skin. If part of the tick stays in the skin, don't worry. It will eventually come out - although your parents should call the doctor if they notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme disease. They should swab the bite with alcohol. Then I told the parents one note of caution: Don't use "folk remedies" like petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and remove a tick. These methods don't get the tick off the skin and might just cause the insect to burrow deeper and release more saliva (which increases the chances of disease transmission).
They were all happy to hear that tick bites don't generally hurt - then I explained to the parents, that's part of the difficulty in knowing whether someone has Lyme disease because pain usually helps to call attention to problems. So be on the lookout for ticks and rashes, and call your doctor if you're at all concerned. Remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing, and in this case the main thing is our children and education on Lyme disease. As alway, if you know of anyone that has Lyme disease and needs assistance paying for treatment and/or medication, just give me or any member of the Pediatric Lyme Foundation a call.
Column Posted on Web Site December 29, 2013
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