Lyme disease: How to protect yourself from tick-borne illness

Who would have guessed that something about the size of a poppy seed could trigger such a big health problem? Since doctors first began reporting Lyme disease in 1991, its incidence has doubled in the United States and parts of Europe. Now, thanks to climate change, the geographic areas in which these ticks are found are expanding, putting millions more at risk, including right here in Canada.

A single bite from a deer tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is enough to cause Lyme disease and the various miseries that come with it.

• At first, a tick bite causes a hard bump.
• Most people with Lyme disease develop a circular rash at the site of the bite within three to 30 days of being bitten. As the rash expands, the centre may become lighter, creating a bull's-eye appearance.
• But you can have Lyme without developing the rash. If you see a tick, don't panic. You have up to 24 hours to remove it before the infection is transmitted, and 96 percent of people who find and remove a tick in this time frame don't get infected.
• If you find a tick on you, the best way to remove a tick is with fine-point tweezers. Grab it with the tweezers as close to your skin as possible, near the tick's head or mouth, then pull the tick straight out — don't twist. Place the tick in a small jar or resealable plastic bag and take it with you to the doctor.

• Early symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue and the characteristic bull's-eye skin rash.
• Left untreated, the infection can spread to the heart, joints and nervous system.
• Complications include arthritis, heart rhythm abnormalities, encephalitis and facial paralysis.

If you've been bitten or suspect you have Lyme disease, go to your doctor for a dose of antibiotics.

• Studies find that a single, 200-milligram dose of doxycycline within three days of removing the tick can reduce the risk of serious disease by 87 percent.
• Some experts recommend longer-term treatment in case the infection has already taken hold.

• Cover up. Most cases of Lyme disease occur on a person's own property in grassy fields and wooded areas. Always protect yourself with long pants tucked into socks, long-sleeved shirts and light-coloured clothing — better to see ticks. Dressing this way can reduce your risk of Lyme by 40 percent.
• Spray yourself. Using a tick repellent reduces your risk of infection by 20 percent. The most effective repellents contain 10 to 35 percent DEET. Products with 10 percent DEET work for about two hours; reapply after that. Don't use repellents with more than 30 percent DEET on children.
• Check for ticks. Examine your whole body for any small, round, black or brown bumps. Don't forget between your toes, the bottoms of your feet and in your groin. Stand in front of a long mirror to check your back and have someone check your scalp.
• Stay on the trail. When you're hiking, avoid the trail edges. Ticks inhabit shrubby vegetation anywhere from ankle to waist high. Avoid brushing against greenery at the trail's edge, and you're less likely to bring home a tick.
• Remove leaf litter. Get rid of the brush and leaf litter where ticks love to hang out and create a one metre (three foot) buffer zone of wood chips or gravel between any forest and your yard. Keep your lawn short. If you live in a deer-prone area, consider installing deer fencing to keep them out.

Get prepared with this handy guide and reduce your risk of contracting lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. If you think you've been infected, be sure to contact your doctor for immediate treatment.