Pediatric Lyme Disease

At present, the best way to avoid Lyme disease is to avoid deer ticks. Although generally only about 1 percent of all deer ticks are infected with Lyme disease bacteria, in some areas more than half of them harbor the germs. If you are pregnant, you should be especially careful to avoid ticks in Lyme disease areas because infection can be transferred to your unborn child. Although rare, such a prenatal infection may make you more likely to miscarry or deliver a stillborn baby.

Although highly effective, repellents can cause some serious side effects, particularly when you use high concentrations repeatedly on your skin. Infants and children especially may suffer from bad reactions to DEET. If you repeatedly apply insect repellents with concentrations of DEET higher than 15 percent, you should wash your skin with soap and water, and wash any clothing as well.

Check for ticks. The immature deer ticks most likely to cause Lyme disease are only about the size of a poppy seed, so they are easily mistaken for a freckle or a speck of dirt. Once indoors check for ticks, particularly in the hairy regions of your body. Wash all clothing. Check pets for ticks before letting them in the house. Pets can carry ticks into the house. These ticks could fall off without biting the animal and then attach to and bite people. In addition, pets can develop symptoms of Lyme disease.

If a tick is attached to your skin, pull it out gently with tweezers, taking care not to squeeze the tick's body (Tick removal kits are available from the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, simply call me or any of the board members to receive one.) Apply an antiseptic to the bite.

Studies suggest that a tick must be attached for at least 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease bacteria. Promptly removing the tick could keep you from getting infected.

Get rid of ticks. Deer provide a safe haven for ticks that transmit B. burgdorferi and other diseasee causing microbes. You can reduce the number of ticks, which can spread diseases in your area, by clearing trees, debris, and removing yard litter and excess brush from your yard that attract deer, stray pets, and rodents.
 

Column Posted on Web Site April 17, 2010