Tis the season to be looking for deer ticks.
Now is the time to educate yourself about the dangers of Lyme disease, so your toddler’s romp in the woods doesn’t end up in a trip to the hospital.
Lyme disease is an extremely painful condition that can affect a person’s skin, joints, nervous system, and other organs. Symptoms, and their severity, can vary from person to person, but if left untreated the disease can prove deadly.
Contrary to popular belief, Lyme disease is not transmitted from person to person, and the risk of a child contracting the disease is minimal, though it increases depending on an individual’s exposure to ticks. Kids and adults who spend a lot of time outdoors–particularly in or near wooded areas–are more likely to contract Lyme disease.
So how can you tell if your child has the disease?
According to health care experts, the symptoms of Lyme disease often occur in three stages, though not everyone experiences all stages:
STAGE 1
The first sign of Lyme disease is a circular rash, which appears on the skin within one to two weeks of infection, but may develop up to 30 days after the tick bite. This rash often has a characteristic “bull’s-eye” appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. It may also appear as a solid red ring. Patients describe the rash as being warm to the touch but not itchy. On people with darker skin tones, the rash may take on a bruise-like appearance. Although this rash is considered typical of Lyme disease, doctors say many patients never develop it.
STAGE 2
In addition to the rash, a person may experience flu-like symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. If left untreated these symptoms may go away on their own. But in some people, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Flu-like symptoms usually appear within several weeks after the tick bite, even in people who don’t develop the initial rash.
STAGE 3
If left undetected and untreated Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to an irregular heart rhythm or chest pain. It can also spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy) or tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. Other symptoms of advanced Lyme disease are severe headaches and neck stiffness. Swelling and pain in the large joints can also occur.
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