How to Prevent Lyme Disease Before & After an Infected Blacklegged AKA Deer Tick Bite in Mount Holly, NJ

As the weather continues to get warmer and we are spending more time outside, it’s time to start thinking about ticks and Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is primarily transmitted by infected Western blacklegged ticks on the Pacific Coast and infected blacklegged AKA deer ticks in the Mid-Atlantic, North Eastern and Central States. Although Lyme disease is found throughout the United States, it is considered by many as an East Coast disease because of its origin and prevalence here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the U.S. every year. This staggering information means that’s 1.5 times the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer and six times the number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. every year are diagnosed with Lyme disease! In reality, these numbers are probably even higher because Lyme disease is extremely hard to diagnose.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

There are likely many people living with Lyme disease that don’t even know. And it can affect anyone and all age groups. Many people living with Lyme disease are misdiagnosed because the symptoms overlap with many other diseases. Symptoms of Lyme disease include flu-like symptoms early on like chills, fever, sweats, fatigue, nausea, muscle aches and joint pain. Rashes and facial drooping can also occur. The rash that develops from Lyme disease is typically shaped like a bulls eye but can vary. Poor sleep and mood problems can also develop.

Blacklegged AKA Deer Tick Identification

In New Jersey and other Northeastern states, Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged or deer tick. Deer ticks vary in size depending on the feeding states and the sex of the tick. Females are about the size of a sesame seed with the males being smaller. They are orange-brown in color and will get a rusty hue after a feeding. They will also grow in size when engorged with blood. The tick will feed on a host’s blood in order to survive. Some of these hosts include deer, birds and small rodents like mice and chipmunks. Family pets can become hosts after they spend time outdoors. Ticks live in piles of leaves, tall grass, dense brush and wooded areas that are shaded or moist. They don’t jump or fly but will spend their time patiently waiting for a host to walk by. They use sensors that detect carbon monoxide to find potential hosts and will wait with their front legs outstretched to attach themselves to a host. This is called “questing”.

Tick Prevention Clothing & Other Methods

1. Wear light colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks.
2. Wear long sleeves and pants that are tucked in when in areas that are prone to ticks.
3. Wear socks and shoes instead of sandals.
4. When hiking, stay on trails instead of off the path.
5. Use repellants for protection.
6. Check for ticks after being outside.
To prevent Lyme disease after a tick bite, carefully remove the tick as soon as possible. Use a set of fine tweezers and grip the tick as close to the skin as you can and pull backwards with a steady pressure. It is also important to see a medical professional as preventive antibiotics may also be prescribed.

Tick Control

Tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease are completely preventable. One bite can leave you sick for the rest of your life. Early diagnosis makes treatment much more successful, typically with antibiotics. Delaying treatment makes recovery more difficult. If you think you have a tick infestation, contact a professional pest management company like Ross Environmental Solutions for treatment. Help with tick or other pest problems is just a call away!