With
summer approaching, Staten Islanders need to be aware of the dangers that the
rising deer population poses with regards to Lyme disease, which is spread by
deer ticks. Every year, there are approximately 20,000 new reported cases of
Lyme disease. This number is believed to be even lower than the actual infected
rate, due to lack of diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Signs
of acute Lyme disease are fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint
aches and swollen lymph nodes, which can occur up to a month after a tick bite.
A rash often forms around the bite, which in many cases resembles a bullseye.
When
Lyme disease is detected early, it can often be resolved after several weeks of
treatment with antibiotics. Unfortunately, for some, symptoms can persist after
treatment, lasting for months or even years. This condition, called
post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, can cause severe muscle and joint pain,
fatigue and cognitive difficulties.
Lyme
disease can affect anyone, and many well-known people have spoken out about
their experience with the disease, including musicians Avril Lavigne and Daryl
Hall, actors Ashley Olsen, Ben Stiller and Richard Gere; President George W.
Bush; author Amy Tan, and model Christy Turlington.
If
you think you have been exposed to Lyme disease or have gotten bitten by a
tick, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Follow
these tips to help protect yourself from ticks and reduce your chances of
getting Lyme disease:
