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Understanding Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. It is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and ticks carrying Lyme disease are spreading northward into Canada. Anyone can be at risk if bitten by an infected tick, which are often found in wooded and rural areas. Symptoms of Lyme disease may include a bullseye rash and flu-like symptoms. Prompt removal of attached ticks and antibiotic treatment of infected individuals can help prevent long term complications of the disease.

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258 views20 pages

Understanding Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 and is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. It is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and ticks carrying Lyme disease are spreading northward into Canada. Anyone can be at risk if bitten by an infected tick, which are often found in wooded and rural areas. Symptoms of Lyme disease may include a bullseye rash and flu-like symptoms. Prompt removal of attached ticks and antibiotic treatment of infected individuals can help prevent long term complications of the disease.

Uploaded by

jabir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Lyme Disease

Bud Ivey CPHI(C)


March 20 2014
Lyme Disease
• First identified in 1975 in
a group of arthritis
patients in Lyme,
Connecticut

• 1978 it was found to be


tick related

• 1981 Borrelia burgdorferi


was identified as the main
cause of Lyme disease
Where is it Found?
Where is it Found?
• Lyme disease is the most common tick
related illness in the Northern Hemisphere
• Ticks able to carry Lyme disease are
spreading into Canada at a rate of 46 km/year,
caused by global warming
• Within HKPR we have a known hot spot
located at Presqu’ile Provincial Park in
Brighton
Presqu’ile & Sandbanks
Provincial Parks
Who is at risk of infection?
• Anyone can get bitten
by a tick
• Often people frequenting
wooded and rural areas
• Common for hikers,
hunters, birders, dog
walkers etc.
How can I get Lyme disease?
• Caused by the bite of an infected
blacklegged tick
• Most commonly found in fields
and forested areas
• Ticks like to attach to the body in
warm protected areas ie: groin,
armpits, scalp
What do ticks look like?
What does HKPR do with ticks?
When a tick is brought into HKPR:

• PHIs take the tick and victim info to send for


testing
• Ticks sent to Peterborough Public Health lab
to determine type (1-2 weeks avg.)
• If specimen is a deer tick the lab sends the
tick to Winnipeg for Lyme testing (additional
2-6 weeks)
Managing
• Deer ticks acquire Lyme
disease pathogens from
rodents, not from deer
However
• Controlling the deer
population also controls
the deer tick population
as they need the deer for
reproductive success
Preventing Exposure
• Light colored clothing (easier to spot ticks)
• Wear long pants and sleeves
• Wear closed toed footwear
• Tuck your pants into socks
• Use insect repellant with DEET
• Put a tick and flea collar on your pet
• Thorough check of your body after being in
tick habitat
What do I do if I get bit?
• Prompt removal, usually requires >24 hours
to transmit
• Using tweezers gently grab tick close to skin
and pull straight out
• Do not squeeze the tick as it can cause
release of Lyme disease agent
What do I do if I get bit?
• Place the tick in a container and see your
doctor
• Bring the tick to either your doctor or health
unit
• Cleanse bite area with rubbing alcohol or
soap and water
How do I know if there
is a problem?
1st Stage
Fever, chills, joint pain,
headache, fatigue
Bull’s eye rash called
Erythema Chronicum
Migrans may appear
3 to 30 days after bite
Public Health Agency of Canada
How do I know if there
is a problem?
2nd Stage
Nervous system damage
Central – meningitis
Peripheral – facial nerve
paralysis
Can last up to several
months
How do I know if there
is a problem?
3rd Stage

Lasts months to
years if untreated
causing arthritis and
neurological
symptoms
Lyme Disease and Pets

• Pets are also a great


mode of transmission for
ticks
• Ticks can grab on fur while
in long grass, dense bush
• Ticks can fall from trees on
to animals
Lyme Disease and Pets

• Animals bring the ticks


home

• Always check animals for


ticks when returning from
tick infested areas
Questions?

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