Protecting your kids against Lyme disease and tick bites this summer

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre recently urged those who spend time doing outdoor activities to protect themselves and children against Lyme disease, which is a disease spread through tick bites.

Lymes Disease was first recorded in the USA in 1975 and later in Ireland in 1982. However, the disease only became notifiable in Ireland in 2012. While very few cases are reported each year in Ireland (less than twenty) it is likely that hundreds of people actually contract the disease per year.

The disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi and it is the fastest growing vector (insect) borne infection in the world. The bacteria are shaped like corkscrews allowing them to easily burrow deep into bodily tissues.

Lyme Disease has the potential to affect anyone but those most likely to be affected by the disease are those that frequently take part in outdoor activities. Ramblers, hill walkers, hikers, scouts, and campers are among those that are most at risk. The most likely time of year to contract Lymes Disease is from April - September.

Prevention

Like any disease, prevention is key to protecting oneself against Lyme disease. According to Tick Talk Ireland there are a number of ways to protect yourself and your family against contracting the disease. Tick bites may be prevented by:

Prevention

#1 Wearing long sleeved tops and trousers when taking part in outdoor activities, especially if you know you will be around long grass or woodland trails. Tuck trousers into socks so as to minimise the amount of skin exposed to the air.

#2 Dress the family in light coloured clothing so as ticks will be easier to spot.

#3 Check yourself and your kids for ticks every few hours while outdoors.

#4 Apply insect repellent all over the skin, making sure to check that it contains 20-30% DEET. Permethrin (available in camping stores) may also be applied to clothing as an added precaution.

#5 Avoid walking through tall grass and try to stay on the centre of trails so as to avoid leaves and branches where ticks may be located.

#6 Check your children’s bodies for ticks once at home, making sure to check behind the ears, inside the outer ear, under the arms, behind the knees, on the neck and on the scalp so as not to miss any potential ticks. Have someone check all of these areas on your own body also.

#7 If any ticks are found, they should be removed immediately. While the majority of ticks don’t even carry the infection, with even those that do, the risk of Lyme disease is low if the tick is removed quickly. After removal, wash the area well and apply an antiseptic.

Tick Talk Ireland also warns that the use of heat, alcohol, petroleum jelly or finger nail polish will not be effective on an embedded tick.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of Lyme Disease do not always appear soon after being bitten and may even take years to surface. Symptoms may be varied and often differ from person to person. For this reason, Dr Armin Schwarzbach, the man who set up the worlds first tick borne disease clinic, described Lyme Disease as ‘chameleon-like.’ The disease can be very difficult to diagnose as the symptoms mimic a number of other diseases, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis. According to the Irish Independant report on the poor diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Ireland, the common blood test used here - the Borrelia-ELISA test - often misses between 35 - 60% of cases of the disease.

The symptoms of Lyme Disease include:

Symptoms

Headaches.

Chronic fatigue.

Flu like symptoms such as a sore throat, stiff neck, fever and aching muscles.

An unusual, ‘bulls eye’ rash develops in about 50% of people within 3-30 days.

Sometimes after being infected with Lyme Disease a person will show no symptoms at all.

Treatment

While most cases of Lyme disease are easily treated, early treatment is essential. With time, the disease transforms into Late Lymes Disease. This form of the disease is extremely difficult to eradicate. Patients may be left with serious long term health problems including various heart issues, paralysis and loss of sight.

When treated early, patients are normally put on a course of antibiotics for up to three weeks. If complications develop during this time, intravenous antibiotics may be administered. Once Lymes Disease is recognised and treated in good time, patients are very unlikely to develop serious long term health problems from the disease.

If you have been bitten or feel you or your kids have been exposed please visit your GP.