Pediatric Lyme Disease

Not all ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease; they become infected after feeding on an infected animal, such as mice or other small mammals.
The type of tick responsible for spreading Lyme disease in New York is the black-legged tick. You cannot get Lyme disease from another person or an infected animal. Transmission times for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases vary, and the sooner a tick is removed, the lower the risk of infection. It is important to always check for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Black-legged tick nymphs are the size of a poppy seed and adult ticks are the size of a sesame seed. Both can transmit Lyme, as well as other tick-borne diseases. Transmission time has always been and is still a current topic of debate, but some pathogens are transmitted in minutes, others hours. I always say and have been saying for almost 20 years to err on the side of caution: the sooner the better.
In recent years, the Lone Star tick, a southern species, has been detected in parts of New York. Females have a white spot on their back. It does not transmit Lyme disease, but can spread similar illnesses such as Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STAR) or Ehrlichiosis.
Ticks can be active all months of the year when temperatures above freezing. However, most tick encounters occur from April through November. Their preferred habitats are wooded areas and adjacent grasslands. Lawns and gardens at the edges of woods may also be home to black-legged ticks. Ticks may feed on wild animals such as mice, deer, birds and raccoons, but domestic animals such as cats, dogs and horses can also carry the ticks closer to home.
Lyme disease is often hard to diagnose because the symptoms are usually non-specific (fever, fatigue) and similar to those of other common illnesses. Symptoms may occur shortly after being bitten by a tick, but may be so mild that they often go unnoticed. Some people notice a rash after experiencing a tick bite, but many do not. Many tick-born microbes also cause disease symptoms of varying severity. Babesia is a parasite that causes headaches, recurring fevers, and anemia, Symptoms of Anaplasma include fever and extreme fatigue. Powassan is a virus that can cause encephalitis in a small subset of those infected. these diseases can be life-threatening. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and swollen glands, particularly during times like summer, when colds and flu are uncommon. Severe symptoms such as heart arthymias/chest pain or meningitis can also occur.
Lyme disease left untreated and even in some people who have received treatment for Lyme disease, symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, migrating joint pain, numbness, tingling or burning sensations are know to occur. So as I always say, if you think that you or your child got bit by a tick, go to you doctor sooner rather than later and immediately get started on antibiotics and ask for a blood test.
Thank you all for your unending support of the Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation and for taking the time to care and share. On March 22, 2020, we will be having a Gala Celebration, celebrating our 20 Anniversary of when I started this foundation as governor of the New York District. This is the only time that we have had a Gala Anniversary Celebration and I hope that you will save the date and find time to attend this celebration. More information will be following. If you have any questions about the Gala please contact Distinguished Past Governor Joe Aiello at (516) 828-6304.

Column Posted on Web Site May 20, 2019