WDVM looks at Lyme disease - As the weather warms, ticks become more active and Lyme Disease risks increase
From May through July, people will get more tick bites and tickborne diseases than any other time of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But where does Lyme Disease start? How does it spread? Should you cancel all of your outdoor plans?
Experts say it all starts with a small tick, no bigger than the tip of a pencil. Actually, an even smaller bacteria within the tick sets off the chain of events.
"The disease is actually caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi," explained Dr. Mohammed Ali, an infectious disease specialist with Meritus Health.
This microscopic bacteria carried by tiny deer ticks can wreak havoc in a body.
"[The tick] releases the bacteria under your skin and from there, the bacteria can disseminate or spread into your blood," Dr. Ali said. "And from the blood, it essentially attacks your blood or your nerves."
Dr. Ali said the disease is not contagious.
"It's caused by a deer tick, and humans act as a dead end host for the disease," he explained. "So once I get Lyme Disease, I cannot give it to anyone else."
Ticks become more active in the spring and summer months in the northeastern United States, and a recent report released by the CDC shows that illnesses spread by ticks have nearly tripled from 2014 to 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/index.htm
"Global warming, in general, is leading to more warm days than cold days, and we're seeing more ticks, and people are [spending more time] outside," Dr. Ali said.
"As far as I know, DEET is the chemical that helps deter the tick," said Tim Hafer, president of Hafer's Gunsmithing in Hagerstown.
"All age groups are susceptible to Lyme Disease. The risk factor is being outdoors," Dr. Ali confirmed.
While being aware is helpful, tracking down Lyme Disease-spreading ticks can be tricky.
"A person who gets Lyme Disease may not even remember getting a tick bite, because the tick is so small," Dr. Ali said. "It's very easy to not see a tick biting you, and you can still get Lyme Disease."
"Patients who actually get Lyme Disease, they are quite ill," Dr. Ali explained. "They get really bad headaches and muscle pains, and joint pains. Usually, they become functionless."
“It is really hard to do research on it,” said Dr. John Aucott, director of the Johns Hopkins Rheumatology Lyme Disease Center.
“Diagnostic tests are the key starting place for research, because if you can not measure or diagnose the illness, it is very hard to understand treatment and it is also very hard to understand how to develop new treatments,” Dr. Aucott added.
There is only one main test to diagnose Lyme Disease, which is based on antibody response to see if a person's immune system recognizes the infection.
Read also: Another misleading Lyme study! https://bit.ly/2lHNBSL
From May through July, people will get more tick bites and tickborne diseases than any other time of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But where does Lyme Disease start? How does it spread? Should you cancel all of your outdoor plans?
Experts say it all starts with a small tick, no bigger than the tip of a pencil. Actually, an even smaller bacteria within the tick sets off the chain of events.
"The disease is actually caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi," explained Dr. Mohammed Ali, an infectious disease specialist with Meritus Health.
This microscopic bacteria carried by tiny deer ticks can wreak havoc in a body.
"[The tick] releases the bacteria under your skin and from there, the bacteria can disseminate or spread into your blood," Dr. Ali said. "And from the blood, it essentially attacks your blood or your nerves."
Dr. Ali said the disease is not contagious.
"It's caused by a deer tick, and humans act as a dead end host for the disease," he explained. "So once I get Lyme Disease, I cannot give it to anyone else."
Ticks become more active in the spring and summer months in the northeastern United States, and a recent report released by the CDC shows that illnesses spread by ticks have nearly tripled from 2014 to 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/index.htm
"Global warming, in general, is leading to more warm days than cold days, and we're seeing more ticks, and people are [spending more time] outside," Dr. Ali said.
"As far as I know, DEET is the chemical that helps deter the tick," said Tim Hafer, president of Hafer's Gunsmithing in Hagerstown.
"All age groups are susceptible to Lyme Disease. The risk factor is being outdoors," Dr. Ali confirmed.
While being aware is helpful, tracking down Lyme Disease-spreading ticks can be tricky.
"A person who gets Lyme Disease may not even remember getting a tick bite, because the tick is so small," Dr. Ali said. "It's very easy to not see a tick biting you, and you can still get Lyme Disease."
"Patients who actually get Lyme Disease, they are quite ill," Dr. Ali explained. "They get really bad headaches and muscle pains, and joint pains. Usually, they become functionless."
“It is really hard to do research on it,” said Dr. John Aucott, director of the Johns Hopkins Rheumatology Lyme Disease Center.
“Diagnostic tests are the key starting place for research, because if you can not measure or diagnose the illness, it is very hard to understand treatment and it is also very hard to understand how to develop new treatments,” Dr. Aucott added.
There is only one main test to diagnose Lyme Disease, which is based on antibody response to see if a person's immune system recognizes the infection.
Read also: Another misleading Lyme study! https://bit.ly/2lHNBSL
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