In warm weather, the threat of
Lyme disease
might make you think that your kids would be safer in the comfort
of a climate-controlled living room rather than the great outdoors.
Though a child's risk of getting Lyme disease after being
bitten by a tick is only about 1-3%, it's important to
consider the factors that affect someone's Lyme disease
risk.
Location
It's true that Lyme disease is the leading tick-borne
disease in the United States, with more than 23,000 cases reported
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005.
Most cases of Lyme disease occur in the Northeast, upper Midwest,
and Pacific coast areas of the United States. Lyme disease
incidence has been reported in other states, but those
that have been hardest hit are:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
Cases have also been reported in Asia, Europe, and parts of
Canada. Most cases of Lyme disease occur between April and October,
particularly in June and July.
Outdoor Activities and Pets
Besides living in one of these areas, other factors that might
increase a child's tick risk include:
- spending a lot of time outdoors in tall grass, brush, shrubs,
or wooded areas
- having pets that may carry ticks indoors
- participating in activities such as landscaping, hiking,
camping, fishing, or hunting in tick-infested areas
Safety Tips
So your teen got a job as a landscaper this summer and
you're planning a family camping trip - does that mean Lyme
disease is in your family's future? No, but it does mean that
you should take some precautions to protect your family - such
as using insect repellent and wearing light-colored clothing when
outdoors to make spotting ticks easier - and know how to remove a
tick, just in case.
If you find a tick:
- Call your doctor, who may want you to save the tick after
removal for identification as the type that may carry Lyme
disease or another type of illness. You can put the tick in a jar
of alcohol to kill it.
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth,
next to the skin.
- Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the
skin. If part of the tick stays in the skin, don't worry, it
will eventually come out - although you should call your doctor
if you notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme
disease.
- Swab the bite site with alcohol.
One note of caution: Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit
match to kill a tick - they're not effective.
It's important to remove the tick as soon as possible. The
longer the tick is attached, the greater the chance that Lyme
disease has been transmitted. Usually, bacteria from a tick bite
will enter the bloodstream only if the tick stays attached to the
skin for 36-48 hours or longer. If the tick is removed within 1 to
2 days, it is less likely have transmitted Lyme disease.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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