David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Ticks and Lyme disease: What is it and how can I protect myself?
by Taylor Blewett, Ottawa Citizen
July 6, 2018
As the warm weather lures Ottawans into the great outdoors, protecting against Lyme disease and the tiny creatures that carry it might not be top of mind. But in 2017, there were 186 confirmed or probable cases of the disease in Ottawa, nearly double what was reported by Ottawa Public Health the year before.
Because awareness is key to preventing what can develop into serious illness, here’s what you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease before you head into the wild — or your neighbourhood park.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an illness spread by the bite of a blacklegged tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It starts as a localized infection, according to Health Canada, and left untreated the bacterium can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, causing tissue damage and myriad symptoms that can persist for months or years.
While a distinctive bull’s-eye rash around the tick bite area is often the hallmark of a Lyme infection, OPH program manager Michael Ferguson warned it doesn’t appear in every case. Lyme disease symptoms include fatigue, fever or chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, numbness or tingling, or spasms or weakness.
How can I protect myself?
“Basically the entire city of Ottawa is established as a risk area” for the disease, Ferguson said. But take particular care in grassy or wooded areas, in or outside of the city. Applying a Health Canada-approved insect repellent with DEET or icaridin, wearing clothes that cover as much skin as possible, staying on the trails when hiking, and doing a full-body tick check when you leave the area are all solid prevention steps.
Alright, what if I’m unsuccessful in the whole “protection” thing?
If you happen to find an eight-legged creature latched on to your skin — look carefully because nymphs (immature ticks) can be as small as a poppy seed — OPH recommends you remove it ASAP. Using fine-pointed tweezers, grab the tick’s head as close to the skin as you can, and slowly pull it out. Wash the bite area with soap and water.
What now?
Ferguson said if the tick looks engorged — “like it’s had a good blood meal” — or if it’s been attached to you for 24 hours or longer, or an unknown amount of time, see your physician. If you do so within a 72-hour window, you could be prescribed a preventative dose of antibiotic, depending on the circumstances. If you want to bring your tick friend along with you for eventual testing, put it in a Ziploc bag or empty pill bottle.
In all tick-bite situations, even if it was attached for fewer than 24 hours, OPH recommends you monitor for the symptoms of Lyme disease for 30 days. If they develop, contact your doctor.
by Taylor Blewett, Ottawa Citizen
July 6, 2018
As the warm weather lures Ottawans into the great outdoors, protecting against Lyme disease and the tiny creatures that carry it might not be top of mind. But in 2017, there were 186 confirmed or probable cases of the disease in Ottawa, nearly double what was reported by Ottawa Public Health the year before.
Because awareness is key to preventing what can develop into serious illness, here’s what you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease before you head into the wild — or your neighbourhood park.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is an illness spread by the bite of a blacklegged tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It starts as a localized infection, according to Health Canada, and left untreated the bacterium can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, causing tissue damage and myriad symptoms that can persist for months or years.
While a distinctive bull’s-eye rash around the tick bite area is often the hallmark of a Lyme infection, OPH program manager Michael Ferguson warned it doesn’t appear in every case. Lyme disease symptoms include fatigue, fever or chills, headache, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, numbness or tingling, or spasms or weakness.
How can I protect myself?
“Basically the entire city of Ottawa is established as a risk area” for the disease, Ferguson said. But take particular care in grassy or wooded areas, in or outside of the city. Applying a Health Canada-approved insect repellent with DEET or icaridin, wearing clothes that cover as much skin as possible, staying on the trails when hiking, and doing a full-body tick check when you leave the area are all solid prevention steps.
Alright, what if I’m unsuccessful in the whole “protection” thing?
If you happen to find an eight-legged creature latched on to your skin — look carefully because nymphs (immature ticks) can be as small as a poppy seed — OPH recommends you remove it ASAP. Using fine-pointed tweezers, grab the tick’s head as close to the skin as you can, and slowly pull it out. Wash the bite area with soap and water.
What now?
Ferguson said if the tick looks engorged — “like it’s had a good blood meal” — or if it’s been attached to you for 24 hours or longer, or an unknown amount of time, see your physician. If you do so within a 72-hour window, you could be prescribed a preventative dose of antibiotic, depending on the circumstances. If you want to bring your tick friend along with you for eventual testing, put it in a Ziploc bag or empty pill bottle.
In all tick-bite situations, even if it was attached for fewer than 24 hours, OPH recommends you monitor for the symptoms of Lyme disease for 30 days. If they develop, contact your doctor.
