Ticks and Lyme Disease What’s the connection? What do I need to know? Committed to making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure bayarealyme.org Photograph: Ervic Aquino

What is a Tick? Ticks are not insects, they are arachnids (Spiders are also arachnids). Ticks are external parasites that live off of the blood of other animals – mostly small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

The lifecycle of a tick is 2 years long! © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is an infection that can be contracted through a tick bite. © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Visual sign of Lyme Disease: Expanding rash (bull’s-eye) 3-30 days following tick bite* Round, oval, triangular, irregular shaped rash Rash is not normally itchy or painful Bull’s-eye rash This rash may be confused with allergic reactions to tick bites. (However, allergic reactions occur within 24 hours of the bite and they do not spread) *The rash does not appear on everyone who has been exposed to Lyme disease—it’s only 43-70% of cases. © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Other signs of Lyme disease: Within days of exposure: Flu-like symptoms—fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, headache, swollen lymph nodes Within weeks to months of exposure: Musculo-skeletal: arthritis in one or more joints Nervous system problems: Bell’s Palsy, numbness, tingling, or pain in the arms and legs Heart problems (<10%): disturbances in the heart rhythm Within months to years of exposure: Musculo-skeletal: severe joint pain & swelling (60% of patients) Neurologic complaints: shooting pains, numbness, tingling, problems with short-term memory © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

How common is Lyme disease? Reported Cases of Lyme Disease by Year, United States, 1995-2013 Number of CDC-Reported Cases CDC-Estimated Total Diagnosed Cases © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation http://www.bayarealyme.org/our-research/ecology-lyme-disease/

How common is Lyme disease in California? Disease, like politics, is local © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation Eisen et al. 2006 Am J Trop Med Hyg

How to avoid Lyme disease… Check for ticks every day Ticks can be very small—so feel for bumps (especially on the scalp) Ticks like certain parts of the body: groin, armpits, around the waistband, backs of knees, naval, neck and ears (be sure to check those areas) When hiking, walk in the middle of the trail Avoid bushes, grasses, leaf piles, logs and tree trunks Wear light-colored clothing covering ankles and wrists Ticks crawl UP, so tuck pants into socks Consider treating clothing with insect repellent If you find a tick on you, stay calm and find an adult! © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Our Hero: The Western Fence Lizard! There are proteins in the blood of this lizard that kill the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria! The proteins in the blood of the lizard are like a neutralizing agent and the bacteria is unable to survive This means that this lizard could help stop the spread of Lyme disease! © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation

What to do if you get bitten: Find an adult immediately to help you! Using fine point/needle nose tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible (do NOT use wide/square ended tweezers). Gently pull the tick straight out, using a firm steady motion. Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic to the bite site. Prompt tick removal can prevent transmission of infection. DON’T USE matches/lighters etc. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/121-a120/ © 2015 Bay Area Lyme Foundation