Children and Lyme Disease

Summer time is the perfect time for children to go berry picking, camping, and wander through the woods on nature walks. Unfortunately, summer time is also the perfect time for ticks and other creepy crawlies to make their appearance. Lyme disease is an infection resulting from a bacterial agent transmitted by the bite of a certain species of tick. The tick in question is called "Ixodes Dammini," also know as the deer or bear tick. It is mostly found on wildlife that are in constant contact with the woods, their preferred habitat. This is not to say that city dwellers are completely secure from this disease, however. Residents of areas that are wooded and grassy, as well as hunters and campers who enjoy the outdoors, must be aware of detection and prevention.

Tips for you and your child include tucking pants into socks, wearing light-colored clothing and checking yourself before going inside. Pay particular attention to hard-to-see areas, such as the scalp. Further precautions include the use of a chemical insect repellant, however check first if it is safe to use on young children.

Pets may be protected by using chemical deterrents as well, however for their safety, make sure you read and follow ALL directions to the letter. A vaccine is now available for canines who are active in the tick's environment. Please seek the advice of your veterinarian to determine if this vaccine is useful for your pet.

What to do if you or your child sustains a tick bite? Ticks MUST be removed with care! Improper removal may cause a tick to infect you by sending toxic material directly into the skin. The method of tick removal recommended by the Center for Disease Control is to grasp the tick firmly at the head and remove it with slow, steady pulling action. Once the tick has been removed, the wound must be thoroughly cleaned.

If you suspect you or your child has been bitten by a deer tick, an early symptom of the disease is a slowly expanding rash. The rash often starts as a flat or raised red area and slowly grows after several days, with partial central clearing. It has been shown that 2/3 of Lyme patients develop a rash three to 32 days after the bite and at the sight of attachment. Some individuals, however, will not exhibit a rash at all.

Other common symptoms of early Lyme disease with or without the rash, include such flu-like symptoms as fever, aches and pains, headaches and joint discomfort. During the early stages of the illness, it is very treatable with a regiment of oral antibiotics including tetracycline, penicillan and erythromycin.

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