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Lyme Disease and Tick Season

Sara Golling
By Sara Golling
May 20th, 2015

Yes, our local ticks can carry Lyme disease, and we can pick up ticks while golfing, gardening, hiking, biking … anything that takes us outdoors, really.  Lyme disease is endemic in southern BC, and the disease can cause long-term damage including arthritis and neurological problems, so it’s worthwhile to do regular tick checks — and to see a doctor if you develop any symptoms after a tick bite.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can include one or a combination of the following with varying degrees of severity:

  • fatigue
  • fever or chills
  • headache
  • spasms or weakness
  • numbness or tingling
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • skin rash

Additional symptoms can include:

  • cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) or dizziness
  • nervous system disorders
  • arthritis/arthritic symptoms (muscle and joint pain)
  • abnormal heartbeat

Untreated, symptoms can last months to years. They can include recurring arthritis (muscle and joint pain), nervous system and/or neurological problems. Symptoms can also include numbness and/or paralysis (inability to move parts of the body). Although not common, fatalities from Lyme disease have been reported.

After being outdoors, remove and examine your clothing carefully,  examine your body — especially the areas that are warmer and more moist than others, such as armpits and groin –and run a fine-toothed comb through your hair to dislodge any unwanted passengers.  Ticks tend to climb upward, and often explore their host for a few hours before biting. 

 

This post was syndicated from https://rosslandtelegraph.com
Categories: Health

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