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Faith Ministry Stories

Ticks and Lyme Disease

Posted by Jean Peikert, RN on

Warm weather is here and so are dangerous disease carrying ticks. Protecting yourself against a bite is your best bet against illnesses like Lyme Disease.

Here are some tips to prevent tick bites. Hire a pest control expert to chemically treat your yard. Use a Deet-based repellant on your skin and clothing. Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks. Try to avoid very bushy or grassy areas and tuck your pants into your socks. When you come indoors, carefully check every nook and cranny of your body. Examine pets and all your gear. Ticks can ride home on animals, clothing and back-packs.

If bitten remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and pull gently and steadily to remove the whole tick without crushing it.

Seal the tick in a jar and show it to your doctor if you develop symptoms. Use soap and water to wash your hands and the area around the bite.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease:

A red circular shaped rash like a “bull’s eye” around the bite.

Flu-like signs and symptoms.

Pain that shifts from one joint to another.

Muscle aches and fatigue.

Treatment for Lyme Disease is an intense round of antibiotics and other medications. Prevention, of course is the best treatment.

It is very important to seek treatment right away.

Do you ever think when you meet a car on the highway how dependent you are on one another? You rely on him not to fall asleep, not be distracted by a cell phone, not to speed and not to cross-over into your lane. He relies on you in just the same way.