[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/be_aware_of_lyme_disease_this_summer__934483858/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] Be aware of Lyme disease this summer
Millions of Americans spend time working or playing in the great outdoors. If you're one of them, you need to be aware of a tick-borne illness called Lyme disease.
Ticks are tiny, spider-like creatures that live on deer, sheep and horses. If a tick bites you, the bacteria they carry can get into your blood and cause Lyme disease.
In 2006, nearly 20,000 people in the were diagnosed with Lyme disease. It's more common in northeastern and north-central states, particularly in Connecticut and Delaware. In fact, Lyme disease was named for Old Lyme, Connecticut, after a spate of cases happened there in the 1970s.
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites. If you're spending time in grassy or wooded areas, wear clothes that cover your skin, and tuck your pants into your socks. When you can, check your body for ticks. You can also use a repellent. Look for ones containing DEET or permethrin, and make sure you follow the instructions. (Subscribers to ConsumerReportsHealth.org can read more about how to prevent tick bites.)
If you find a tick, don't panic. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease, and even when they do, they need to stay on your skin for hours to infect you. However, it's still best to remove the tick as soon as you can. Use fine tweezers to grip it close to your skin, taking care not to crush the body. Pull gently but firmly, without twisting, then wipe your skin with rubbing alcohol.
People who catch Lyme disease often get a rash. This sometimes forms a bull's-eye pattern of red and white rings around the tick bite. Lyme disease can also cause flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, a fever or muscle pains.
Antibiotics can kill the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. If you think you might have this condition, see your doctor as soon as you can. Don't delay, because after a few weeks or months, it's possible for the infection to spread into your nerves and joints, or even your heart.
What you need to know. If you get a rash or flu-like illness and think you could have been bitten by a tick, see your doctor, even if you didn't notice a tick bite.
?Philip Wilson, patient editor, BMJ Group
ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.
Read more on what you can do to prevent and treat Lyme disease (free), check out our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only), and for more tips on summer health and safety, take a look at our special guide.
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