DuBOIS — During the summer and fall months, people enjoy outdoor activities. Whether playing sports, camping, gardening or hiking, the risk exists for tick bites.

“Ticks thrive in woody and grassy areas,” said Cody Wakefield, a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) with Penn Highlands Healthcare. “Any activity where you are around plants and vegetation – even walking a dog – increases your possibility of coming in contact with ticks.”

Why should ticks be avoided?

Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Lyme disease bacteria is spread to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks. These ticks are prevalent throughout Pennsylvania and in other parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from three to 30 days following a tick bite, the following signs or symptoms may appear:

• A circular, expanding bull’s-eye or target lesion may begin at the site of the bite in approximately 70% to 80% of infected people. The rash will gradually expand. It is important to note that the bull’s-eye rash will not appear in everyone who has been bitten by a blacklegged tick.
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

Days or months after the bite the symptoms below may be present:

• Severe headache and neck stiffness
• Rashes in other parts of the body
• Facial palsy (drooping of facial muscles)
• Pain in the muscles, joints and bones
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness and shortness of breath
• Shooting pains or numbness in the hands and feet

How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

If a person suspects they may have been bitten by a deer tick and have symptoms of Lyme disease, they should seek medical attention. A provider will assess whether the symptoms are clinically consistent with Lyme disease and consider other illnesses that may cause similar symptoms. Lab testing, consisting of a two-step blood testing process typically leads to a definitive diagnosis.

What is the treatment?

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can help prevent more serious complications. If you suspect you have been bitten by a deer tick, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you have a tick or insect bite, minor illness or injury that is non-life threatening but requires medical attention, contact your family medicine physician. If you do not have a physician, Penn Highlands Healthcare can help you find one near you, at phhealthcare.org/findadoc.