Lyme disease ticks in New York: how to protect yourself and what to do if infected

Warming New York City is encouraging more outdoor exercise and tick infestations and thus more Lyme disease infections. What you need to know about this infection and how to protect yourself, said the publication Patch.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that spreads through tick bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 476 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year. When treated in the early stages, the disease is not dangerous and recovery occurs quickly. However, if left untreated, it can cause long-term complications, including tachycardia, facial nerve palsy, and arthritis.

Here are some helpful tips to follow before and after going outdoors to avoid infection or catch Lyme disease early.

Where can you find ticks?

Ticks can be encountered in America at any time of the year, but black-footed ticks - the type that transmit Lyme disease in the United States - are most active during the warmer months. Therefore, the risk of encountering ticks is highest in spring and summer.

Ticks usually inhabit grassy and forested areas, but they can also live in a well-kept front yard or flower bed.

How to protect yourself from tick bites

The best way to protect yourself from tick bites is to avoid forest or grassy areas altogether. If you do go to the forest, it is worth treating your clothes with a chemical repellent, such as permethrin.

If you have a pet, discuss ways to protect it from ticks with your veterinarian. If necessary, he may recommend vaccinating your pet for Lyme disease.

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In any case, keep your pet away from tall grass in the forest to reduce the likelihood of a tick bite or parasites entering your home, because the animal can bring a tick on itself.

If you are the owner of a home with a garden, please note that there are landscaping methods that can reduce the tick population. These include clearing tall grass and bushes around your home, mowing lawns frequently, and creating barriers from wood shavings. Applying anti-mite pesticides, such as acaricides, can also help control the number of mites in treated areas of the yard.

Examine your body for ticks

After enjoying the great outdoors, it is extremely important to inspect your clothes, equipment, and pets when you return home. You should also do a complete physical examination. Most often, ticks can be hiding on parts of the body, according to the CDC:

• armpits;
• in and around the ears;
• inside the navel;
• under the knees;
• in and around hair;
• between the legs;
• around the waist.

Showering soon after returning from outdoor activities is also effective in preventing tick bites.

Lyme disease symptoms

Lyme disease symptoms may appear within 3-30 days after a tick bite. If you develop Lyme disease, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the stage of the infection. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms are:

• rash at the site of the bite;
• headache;
• fatigue;
• heat;
• muscle and joint pain;
• swollen lymph nodes.

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If you suspect that you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. If left untreated, the progressive infection can cause heart palpitations, facial nerve palsy, arthritis with severe joint pain, and other serious health problems.

Lyme disease treatment

The sooner you start treating Lyme disease, the faster and easier your recovery will be. However, treatment can be costly.

According to a study by the Johns Hopkins School, the cost of Lyme disease can be as high as $ 3000 per patient (testing, doctor visits, sometimes even hospitalization). Lyme disease can often be cured with a course of antibiotics for two to four weeks. But most insurance companies do not pay for such treatment, so you will have to pay out of pocket.