It’s the summer season in Seattle, and the weather is warm. It’s the perfect season to spend time outdoors, explore the woods, enjoy the sun at beaches, and engage in adventures. But with the fun comes the precautions, too.
Be aware of the ticks while spending time in nature. This is the peak season for tick bites and vector-borne diseases in the US.
Yes, we will discuss Lyme disease. Many of you know what to look for in a tick’s bite – the bullseye, rashes on the skin, along with fever and chills. However, these symptoms typically appear 14 days after the tick bite. A Lyme disease specialist in Seattle is going to share some key facts about Lyme disease that everyone should be aware of.
Things Doctors Want You to Know About Lyme Disease
1. All Tick Bites Do Not Cause Lyme:
It is an important fact. Lyme disease is caused by Ixodes Scapularis, commonly known as “Deer tick” or “Blacklegged tick”. Often, they go unnoticed as they are tiny, and these parasites feed on the blood of mammals. A bite from such ticks transmits the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that are responsible for Lyme disease.
2. Removing A Tick Within 24 Hours Can Prevent Lyme Disease:
After outdoor activities, cleaning yourself and detecting ticks can be helpful. Removing ticks within 24 hours can significantly reduce the chance of causing Lyme disease. The transmission of the bacteria occurs within 36 to 48 hours of the tick’s attachment. So be careful and prevent it.
3. Rash and Fever are Not the Only Symptoms of Lyme Disease:
Many other symptoms can identify Lyme disease. They are stiff neck, swollen and painful joints, jaw pain, fainting, gastrointestinal problems, confusion, memory lapse, and knee and ankle pain.
4. It’s Curable Within A Few Days:
Lyme disease can be detected based on symptoms, physical examination, and blood tests. Once detected, a Lyme doctor in Seattle prescribes an antibiotic course. You can expect to be fully treated within 2 to 4 weeks. So, there is nothing to get tensed if you detect any of the symptoms from a tick bite. But do not leave it untreated.
5. Prevention is Better Than Cure:
That is a well-known proverb we all know. Make sure to use anti-tick spray, wear proper clothing to avoid direct skin contact, and use suitable footwear, such as boots and shoes, to prevent tick bites on the feet. Make sure to check yourself for any tick presence in your skin after returning from outdoor activities. Tick season may differ in some regions of the US, and always be careful about such ticks.
Summary
If you find any ticks attached to your skin, do not rush to remove them. Use a squeezer to grab it and pull it out to remove any leftover of the mouth part on your skin surface. In case you find a bullseye in a small or larger area of your skin, contact the doctor immediately.