Joint pain can be severe, with permanent destruction of bone and cartilage of the joints if left untreated. No deaths have been reported due to initial infection, but complications may affect the life span of some individuals.
Personal protection, early diagnosis and quick treatment are your best defense against Lyme disease. Other Diseases Transmitted by Ticks: Tularemia is a relatively rare but potentially serious tick-transmitted disease that has been recognized in the southeastern U.
Anaplasmosis, Human Ehrlichiosis and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness are all relatively rare, but still potentially serious diseases. All four of these diseases are believed to be of bacterial origin, commonly produce an influenza-like illness and can be readily treated with antibiotics. The best way to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases is to stay in areas where the vegetation is open or maintained below ankle height.
When on wooded trails, in high grass or in brushy areas, it is imperative to take personal precautions. Avoiding vegetation that brushes against the body, especially the legs, is essential to avoiding host-seeking ticks. Around your house, you can treat your dog with an approved pesticide for ticks, keep the grass cut short, fence the yard to keep out other dogs that bring ticks in, and use a pesticide in the yard as needed to reduce tick populations.
Refer to the current Georgia Pest Management Handbook for the most up-to-date and effective pesticide recommendations. While dogs do not seem to be affected by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, they can suffer joint pain from Lyme disease. Georgia has many beautiful outdoor recreation areas, and its citizens should continue to enjoy them. Taking a few precautions and being aware of the symptoms of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and the other, less-common diseases should give you good protection against ticks and tick-borne diseases.
Classes, Workshops, and Club Meetings UGA Extension offers a wealth of personalized services like workshops, classes, consultation, certifications, camps, and educator resources. Find out what Extension has for you! Extension Changes Georgia University of Georgia Cooperative Extension programming improves people's lives and gets results. Our Impact. Extension Publications Circular Circular Lone Star Tick Amblyomma americanum.
Many different species of the tiny arachnids are found all over the globe, but only a few of them bite and transmit diseases: American dog tick, blacklegged tick also known as a deer tick , brown dog tick, Gulf Coast tick, lone star tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick and western blacklegged tick. Georgia is home to at least five of them, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When ticks hatch from eggs, they have to "eat blood at every stage to survive," according to the CDC. They range in size from less than one-eighth of an inch up to about five-eighth of an inch. And they find their hosts like a highly skilled assassin, detecting breath, body odor, body heat, moisture and vibration. Then they wait for a host, resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs.
Once on the skin, the tick inserts its feeding tube, which sometimes has barbs to keep the bug in place. Many species also secrete a cement-like substance to keep them firmly attached. Dog-owners and most people who grew up in tick hotbeds know how dangerous they can be. Lyme disease, for one, is transmitted by the blacklegged tick in the Northeast and northern Midwest, as well as the western blacklegged tick along the Pacific Coast.
A recent study found that nearly half of all U. Every year, about 30, cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments. In , however, there were more than 42, confirmed and probable cases of Lyme reported to federal health officials. That includes eight confirmed cases in Georgia and no probable cases.
Lyme disease can start with flu-like symptoms including headache, fever, and fatigue accompanied by a bulls-eye rash called erythema migraines. An untreated infection moves to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Also, keeping your grass cut short can aid in decreasing the likelihood of an infestation. It is important to not squeeze or crush the tick when removing because this can lead to more harmful fluids being released. Check to see if the mouthparts are completely removed from the wound, then thoroughly clean and disinfect the area.
If you have secondary symptoms or medical concerns, please seek medical attention immediately. Any Pest, Inc. Our main office is located in Kennesaw, Georgia. Our mission is always to provide every client with quality pest control services while displaying our dedication to ethics, excellence, and customer care. At Any Pest, Inc. We offer free pest control consultations, prompt service and customize all plans to meet your specific needs.
For a more environmentally-friendly approach, inquire about our botanical and Eco-friendly pest control products. Forget the folk remedies: "Grab a pair of fine tipped tweezers, remove as quickly as possible as close to skin as you can by pulling it out in a smooth, continuous motion without twisting it," Pritt says. No, you don't need to light a match or roll it in butter, and in fact, those methods often result in only partial removal.
Save it: Put the tick in a plastic bag in the freezer, especially if you think it may have been attached a long time, which may increase the risk of Lyme disease transmission. That way if you decide to see a doctor, they'll be able to identify the type of tick that bit you, and even test it for disease-causing bacteria. Keep in mind, though, that you may not get infected even if the tick tests positive, Dempsey says. Watch for symptoms: A rash, headache, flu-like symptoms and joint pain can all be signs of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis.
A stiff neck and swollen lymph nodes are associated with Lyme disease. So mention your concerns to your health care provider. Blood tests may be able to detect Lyme disease after your body has developed antibodies. But what does it all mean for you? Here's how to sort through the science and figure out if and when you need a booster and which one to get. A lot of us have been sitting too much, and it's hard on us mentally as well as physically.
Research shows breaking up that couch or desk time with short stints of movement can help lift your mood. The FDA has issued new targets to reduce the amount of salt that manufacturers put in their foods. It could prevent thousands of cases of cardiovascular disease. GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world.
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Ticks Suck.
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