Five Things To Know About Lyme Disease In Pelham

PELHAM, NY - With warm weather comes the risk of exposure to Lyme Disease, an illness that is contracted from tick bites. To help Pelham residents understand the disease, here is a list of things to know.

1. Symptoms are divided into early (under 30 days) and later (more than 30 days) categories. According to the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) website, early symptoms include fever; headache; chills; fatigue; swollen lymph nodes and joint aches. A prominent early symptom, the CDC notes, is the erythema migrans (EM) rash, which forms a bull's eye pattern. Later symptoms, according to the CDC, include facial palsy; more EM rashes; arthritis with swelling; nerve pain; short-term memory problems; inflammation in the spinal cord and brain; severe headaches; and irregular heart beats.

2. Properly removing biting ticks requires a delicate process. The CDC says that removal should involve using fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick where it is closest to the skin's surface. The next step, according to the CDC, is to steadily pull the tick upward, but not to jerk it around, as doing so will leave behind its mouth parts. After the tick is removed, the CDC says that the bite area should be cleaned with either an iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol, or soap and water. To properly dispose of the tick, the CDC says to either submerse it in alcohol, tightly wrap it in tape, flush it down the toilet, or place it in a sealed bag or container. A doctor's visit is advised when a person with a bite develops a fever or a rash within subsequent weeks.

3. Antibiotics are used to treat Lyme Disease. The CDC writes that antibiotics can be given orally, with usable types including cefuroxime axetil, doxycycline and amoxicillin. Patients with cardiac or neurological problems related to the disease, the CDC adds, should get intravenous treatment with other types; examples include penicillin and ceftriaxone.

4. There are several ways to reduce the risk of tick bites. The CDC says that people should stay away from bushy or wooded areas, such as those with tall grasses. It also urges people to walk in the center of trails. People are advised to use repellant on exposed skin - examples given include anything containing at least 20 percent DEET, IR3535 or picaridin - and to wear clothing that is treated with permethrin. Additionally, the CDC urges people to shower or bathe within two hours of coming indoors, to tumble dry clothes to kill possible ticks and to do full-body tick checks. A detailed list of tips can be found here.

5. A new federal law bolsters the government's ability to promote research and treatments. Patch reported that on Wednesday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) spoke at Ward Acres Community Garden in New Rochelle, where he called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to completely implement the 21st Century Cures Act, a new law that is meant to boost research and development for drugs. Schumer, Patch reported, is seeking to have the law used to target Lyme Disease and Powassan, which is another tick-borne illness.

Photo: An erythema migrans (EM) rash, which is a prominent symptom of Lyme Disease. Image taken by CNX OpenStax, posted to Wikimedia Commons and made available under a Creative Commons license.