Tickborne Diseases Are On the Rise
As the temperatures rise and the ground thaws, many of us will start venturing out, enjoying the great outdoors once again. Whether you’re hiking in the woods, playing catch in the backyard, or planting this year’s garden, remember to protect yourself against tick bites.
Tickborne diseases have more than doubled in the past two decades. Although the risk of infection is greater in the spring, summer and fall, ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing. Lyme disease, caused by the borrelia bacteria, is the most common tickborne disease in our area. In some cases, the bite of a tick infected with Lyme disease will be accompanied by a reddish ring surrounding the area where the tick latched on, resembling a bullseye.
“Lyme disease symptoms are similar to the flu, and it can often go undiagnosed,” says Dimple Patel, MD, a Hunterdon Health internal medicine physician with Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley. “If you are experiencing symptoms, such as fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains and swollen lymph nodes, it is important to see your physician for a proper diagnosis and treatment. When caught early, Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics.”
Other tickborne diseases, while less common, are also on the rise and can be life-threatening. Alpha-gal syndrome, a type of food allergy, is triggered by the bite of a Lone Star tick which can also be found in our area. Alpha-gal syndrome causes mild to severe allergic reactions to foods that come from mammals including red meat, dairy products, or gelatins.
“The best defense is a good offense when it comes to tick bites,” says Dr. Patel. Follow these prevention tips:
Dress for protection when walking in wooded and grassy areas by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks.
Use tick repellents with DEET, permethrin or picaridin.
Check your skin, paying close attention to underarms, hairline, ears, behind the knees, between your legs, and even inside the belly button.
If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers and monitor your health for signs and symptoms of infection.
Call your physician to schedule an appointment for testing If you have think you may have Lyme disease. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley is currently accepting new patients—call us for an appointment today.
Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley
62 East Mill Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853