Transcript LYME DISEASE

CAUSES OF LYME DISEASE
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Transmitted through the
bite of an infected deer
tick
Caused by a microscopic
spiral bacteria called a
spirochete.
It can take up to 48 hours
for a tick to bite and
spread the spirochete.
DEER TICKS
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Deer ticks look for soft
spots on your body
Elbows, behind knees,
hair line on neck, armpits,
butt and back of thigh
meet, and groin
Deer ticks do not jump or
fly, they hook or cling
onto you or animals
DEER TICKS
DEER TICKS
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Deer tick bite is painless.
You will not feel it or see
unless you are looking for
it
1 out of 4 deer ticks carry
Lyme disease
Deer ticks live for 2 years
and feed 3 times a year
Male deer ticks are
smaller than female
deer ticks
OTHER TICKS
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Dog Ticks
 Wood Ticks
 They are easy to see
and do not transmit
Lyme Disease
3 STAGES TO DEER TICKS
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Larvae
Nymph
Adult
The nymph stage is the
most dangerous.
This is the stage when
most people get bit.
It is hard to see the deer
tick in the nymph stage.
It is the size of a pin head
in the nymph stage.
MONTHS TO BE BITTEN BY DEER
TICK
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MAY
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JUNE
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JULY
RASH
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50% of people who get bit by a
tick will get a rash, 50% of the
people will not.
This rash is called a Bulls Eye
Rash.
This rash can appear within 2
hours or take up to 32 days to
appear.
If no rash appears this makes it
hard for doctors to detect lyme
disease.
DIAGNOSIS
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Doctors diagnose Lyme disease
by a blood test.
Blood test can be negative when
first tested
4 to 6 weeks later blood test will
be positive
If positive they treat with antibiotics
- Taken by mouth
(orally)
- Intravenous(IV) if Lyme is
advanced
No guarantee of a complete cure.
EARLY SYMPTOMS/STAGE 1
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Red Rash
Headaches
Fatigue
Fever
Swollen Glands
Chills
Pain/Stiffness in
joints/muscles
Other Flu like symptoms
LATER SYMPTOMS/STAGE 2
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Double Vision
Poor Coordination
Weakness in legs
Severe Fatigue
Irregular Heartbeat
Severe Pain in Joints
Memory Loss
Facial Paralysis (Bells
Palsy)
WAYS TO PREVENT LYME
DISEASE
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Avoid high grass and wooded
areas
If walking or hiking stay in the
middle of paths/trails
Wear light colored clothing
when going into
wooded/grassy areas. Wear
long pants and long sleeves.
Tuck pants into socks and shirt
into pants
Wear a hat
Apply bug repellant with DEET
WAYS TO PREVENT LYME
DISEASE
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Shower after walking in the
woods
Put clothes in dryer for 30
minutes
Have someone examine
skin/scalp
Cut back brush from yard and
mow grass regularly
Keep bird feeders and wood
piles away from house
Do tick checks on pets and use
a tick comb
REMOVE TICKS THE PROPER
WAY
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Use fine point tweezers
 Grab tick as close to skin
line and pull firmly straight
up until tick lets go
 DO NOT USE: Vaseline,
matches, nail polish
remover. It can cause tick
to spit out bacteria.
REMOVE TICKS THE PROPER
WAY
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Place tick in baggie, label
& date it, and take with
you to doctor.
Wash hands, disinfect
tweezers and bite site.