LYME DISEASE - SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION

Lyme disease is a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi seen in some small

animals like birds, mice. Ticks are insects which sucks blood from this small animals to survive.

when blood is sucked by the ticks the bacterium enters the ticks, thereby becoming a carrier of

the bacterium. Ticks do not fly nor jump but crawl or climb their prey to feed. When ticks bite

they cling to their prey to feed. Most times ticks climb unto humans from bushy areas Their bites

are not painful, so it might be difficult to quickly detect that there is a tick on a persons body.

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease is not harmful to this small animals but harmful to humans.

When this ticks sucks blood from humans and are full the bacterium is then passed into the

human body. Since the bacterium lives in the guts of the ticks, it only when they are full that

the bacterium moves to their mouths and then into humans. It takes between 24 - 48 hours

for the bacterium to be passed into humans on the condition that the tick as not feed before

biting the human (Meaning that the time period when the bacterium enters the human body

can be shorter.).

Common areas where ticks attached themselves to humans include;

     1.   Hairline and neck areas.

     2.   Armpits.

     3.   Groin. 

Below are the body parts that the bacterium affects;

     1.   Heart.

     2.   Skin.

     3.   Joints.

     4.   Nerves.

The symptoms of lyme disease include;

     1.   Rash which is usually the first symptom.

     2.   Fatigue.

     3.   Headache.

     4.   High fever.

     5.   The neck been stiff.

     6.   Pains in the joints and muscle.

     7.   Facial weakness.

     8.   Dizziness.

     9.   Pain around the chest.

     10. Irregular heart beating rate.

Prevention of Lyme disease can be done in the following ways;

     1.   Do not use your finger to remove the ticks.

     2.   Do not squeeae the tick.

     3.   Regularly check that pets do not bring ticks into the house.

     4.   Check that ticks are not brought into the house on your cloths.

     5.   Use insect repellents.

     6.   Avoid bushy and long grass areas.

     7.   Wear cloths that cover your body in tick infested areas.

     8.   Avoid tick hives or living area.

     9.   Do not burn off tick from your body.

     10. Check your wards body (neck,scalp) for ticks regularly.

     11. Check your body (Hairline,groin and armpit).

     12. Take your baths regularly most especially when visiting ticks infested areas.

     13. When removing ticks, use tick removal device or forcep or tweezer.

     14. Remove in an upward way do not crush.

Consult your doctors when symptoms are noticed or if you are feeling ill.