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Tick Tested Positive For Lyme

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Does Treatment Immediately After A Tick Bite Negate Signs Of Early Infection

Officials harvest ticks, test for Lyme disease in Sacramento area

Not every tick carries B. burgdorferi. The infection rate of ticks also varies with geographic region. Therefore, treatment should not be performed based on a tick bite alone. If the tick was found on the animal it can be sent in for B. burgdorferi PCR. PCR for Anaplasma can be performed simultaneously if requested. If the tick was infected, early treatment can be considered. However, a tick must feed for at least 24 hours on an animal or human for B. burgdorferi transmission to occur. Only a serological test will confirm whether transmission of B. burgdorferi occurred and the animal was infected. Antibodies can be detected in infected animals as early as 3-4 weeks after infection. Lyme Multiplex testing is recommended after that time. Treatment can be initiated immediately afterwards if antibody levels are positive. Treatment during this early infection phase is generally very effective.

The Role Of Lyme Disease Tests

The purpose of the most common type of Lyme disease testing is to determine whether you have developed antibodies as a result of past exposure to the Borrelia bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system that target specific threats like bacteria and viruses.

Blood testing alone cannot determine whether you have Lyme disease. Instead, testing can provide helpful information that your doctor can consider along with other factors, such as any symptoms youve had and whether youve been exposed to ticks that can carry Borrelia, to determine if a diagnosis of Lyme disease is appropriate.

Beyond blood testing, it is possible to analyze fluid from the central nervous system for signs of the Borrelia bacteria.

Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented

People aren’t able to become immune to Lyme disease. So even if you’ve had Lyme disease, you can get it again. No vaccine is available currently to prevent the disease.

The FDA approved a Lyme vaccine called LYMErix in 1998. The vaccine was not 100% effective, however. The FDA still recommended preventing the disease in other ways. In 2002, the company that made LYMErix said it would no longer offer the vaccine.

To help prevent Lyme disease, follow these guidelines.

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Can Lyme Disease Be Sexually Transmitted

First of all, if you have been treated for Lyme disease, even if your Western blot is positive, it is very unlikely that there are any spirochetes still circulating in your bodily fluids. Second, there is no good documentation that Lyme disease can be contracted by sexual contact. Given the number of cases of Lyme disease that have been diagnosed over the last 20 years and the fact that there are have been instances where people with active infection are having sexual intercourse but have not yet been treated, one would expect there to be many well documented cases of suspect partner to partner transmission this is not the case. Therefore, for all these reasons, it is highly unlikely that a person could acquire Lyme disease through unprotected intercourse or other sexual contact.

Tick Tests Positive For Lyme Disease In Sudbury

Blacklegged tick tests positive for Lyme disease

File photo

SUDBURY — In a June 9 media release, public health officials in Sudbury confirmed a tick has tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.Public Health Sudbury and Districts issued a reminder to ensure residents are taking precautions for themselves and those in their care.

Those precautions include:

  • avoid walking in tall grass and make sure yards are kept clear of debris and overgrown vegetation, grass, bushes, and trees
  • keep wood piles and bird feeders away from homes
  • wear a long-sleeved, light-coloured shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes
  • use insect repellents that are federally regulated and contain DEET, and follow the manufacturers instructions for their safe use
  • check your clothing, body, and pets for ticks and change your clothing upon returning home from the outdoors
  • take a shower to help wash off ticks that have not yet attached themselves to the skin

Other symptoms of the disease can include fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain.

If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause serious problems to the heart, joints, and nervous system. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.

For more information on Lyme disease and ticks, call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 or visit www.phsd.ca.

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My Child Had Lyme Disease Got Treated And Is Now Depressed Could This Be A Sign Of A Relapse

Depression is a word that encompasses physical, cognitive, and emotional components. The physical would be poor sleep, fatigue, low energy, lack of sex drive. The cognitive would include poor concentration and trouble making decisions. The emotional would include feeling guilty, hopeless, suicidal, and being unable to enjoy life in any aspect. Chronic symptoms triggered by Lyme disease are most often associated with insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, headaches, pain, and, not uncommonly, problems with cognition as well. In other words, chronic Lyme symptoms are most often associated with the physical and cognitive parts of the depressive picture and less often with the emotionally despairing part. When a person presents with the emotional part that is sustained for at least 2 weeks, it may be that a full syndrome depression has emerged related to the Lyme disease or that it is a concurrent but unrelated illness. The emotional aspects of depression might occur secondarily to being sick with a physical illness or directly from an infection affecting the brain or from chemicals affecting the brain that were released by infection outside of the brain. When a person has Lyme encephalitis , the emotional part of depression can be very dramatic. The person might be suddenly tearful for no apparent reason, have very poor frustration tolerance, become paranoid or angered at the least provocation, and appear to have a personality change.

What Should You Do If You Find A Tick

  • Don’t touch the tick with your bare hand.

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the tick. Grab the tick firmly by its mouth or head as close to your skin as possible.

  • Pull up slowly and steadily without twisting until it lets go. Don’t squeeze the tick, and don’t use petroleum jelly, solvents, knives, or a lit match to kill the tick.

  • Save the tick. Place it in a plastic container or bag so it can be tested for disease, if needed.

  • Wash the bite area well with soap and water and put an antiseptic lotion or cream on the site.

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The Following Are The Most Common Misunderstood Facts About Tick Bites:

  • Ticks can transmit several pathogens in as little as 15 minutes. While it is true that the longer a tick is attached, the more likely it is able to transfer Lyme, no one really knows how long a tick needs to be attached to transmit infection. A minimum attachment time has NEVER been established. It is dangerous to assume there is zero risk of contracting a disease if the tick has been attached less than 24 hours.
  • Not everyone with Lyme gets a rash. Studies have shown that only 40-60% of Lyme patients will get an erythema migrans rash, and only 20-30% of those will present as the telltale bullseye rash. Several other tick-borne diseases may cause a rash. See here for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other common rickettsial rashes.
  • A Single dose of Doxycycline is only effective at reducing the tick bite rash. It does not adequately treat any of the known pathogens. In fact, a single dose of doxy may only prevent the rash from surfacing, masking a crucial sign of illness.
  • How Do I Know Whether I Have Received A Sufficiently Long Course Of Antibiotic Therapy

    Nearly 40% of Maine ticks tested had Lyme

    Taken together, these study results suggest that repeated antibiotic therapy may be beneficial for a subgroup of patients. However all of these studies also reported troubling adverse effects associated with the IV antibiotic therapy. Given these potentially dangerous risks, it is clear that other safer and more durable treatments are needed for patients with persistent symptoms.

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    Three Ticks Test Positive For Lyme Disease In North Bay/parry Sound Area

    The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit said Tuesday that since April 2021, three black-legged ticks found in the district have tested positive for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.

    Two of the ticks that tested positive were from the North Bay area, and one was from the Parry Sound area, the health unit said in a news release.

    So far in 2021, the health unit said 37 ticks have been submitted for identification, of which 19 have been identified as black-legged ticks. Although the number of ticks testing positive for the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease is seemingly low, the health unit reminds the public to exercise caution when outdoors.

    There was one confirmed case of Lyme disease reported between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, for residents of the health unit area.

    “Black-legged ticks are not common to the area, however, ticks can travel on birds and deer,” the release said.

    In most cases, the tick must usually be attached for at least 24 hours for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease to be passed on to the host.

    The most common symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding skin rash, which can appear between three and 30 days after a bite.

    If left untreated, other symptoms may develop including fever, chills, headache, fatigue muscle and joint aches, problems with your heartbeat, breathing, balance and short-term memory.

    Methods to prevent tick bites

    Wear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.

    I Was Wondering If Lyme Disease Affects Vision

    Lyme disease can affect eye sight in a number of ways. If the extraocular muscles are involved as in a cranial nerve palsy, then the muscle weakness may result in double vision. Patients may report that their visual acuity appears to be less or that they have lost color vision or can’t see the full visual field. If there is central involvement of the visual pathways, then some patients may experience a marked sensory hyperacusis such as prominent painful light sensitivity or rarely visual trails. In very rare cases, an unattenuated increase of intracranial pressure from neurologic Lyme disease may result in blindness. Of course, any visual problems should be checked by an ophthalmologist or a neuro-ophthalmologist who can then perform a thorough differential diagnosis to rule out other conditions.

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    What Happens During Lyme Disease Testing

    Lyme disease testing is usually done with your blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

    For a Lyme disease blood test:

    • A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

    If you have symptoms of Lyme disease affecting your nervous system, such as neck stiffness and numbness in hands or feet, you may need a test of cerebrospinal fluid . CSF is a clear liquid found in your brain and spinal cord. During this test, your CSF will be collected through a procedure called a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. During the procedure:

    So When Do You Need Blood Tests For Lyme Disease

    Malibu Creek State Park ticks test positive for Lyme ...

    In some cases, you can have Lyme disease without the rash. Or you may not see the rash before it goes away on its own.

    In these cases, your doctor should ask you about your medical history and do a thorough physical exam. Your doctor should look for these signs that you might have Lyme disease:

    • You were in an area with ticks and Lyme disease.
    • You also have fever or redness, warmth, and swelling in one or a few joints at a time usually the knees, shoulders, or wrists.

    Other symptoms can occur later on. Talk to your doctor about testing and treatment choices.

    This report is for you to use when talking with your healthcare provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.

    04/2013

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    Does Lyme Disease Treatment With Antibiotics Affect Antibody Levels

    Antibiotic treatment affects the pathogen . It does not directly influence antibody titers. However, if the treatment is successful and bacteria are removed from the host, the B-cells are not further triggered to produce new antibodies. As a consequence antibodies levels decrease after treatment. Thus, antibody levels are indicators of treatment success .

    How Common Is A False Positive Lyme Test

    Moreover, specificity as low as 43% is reported, indicating that 57% of results coming from such labs are false positives. In BC less than 1% of people tested for Lyme disease have the infection .

    This rash is called erythema migrans. Without treatment, it can last 4 weeks or longer. Symptoms may come and go. Untreated, the bacteria can spread to the brain, heart, and joints.

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    Three Ticks Test Positive For Lyme Disease

    Since April, three black-legged ticks found in the North Bay Parry Sound District have tested positive for the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.

    Thats according to the local health unit which says two of the ticks were from the North Bay area, and one was from the Parry Sound area.

    So far this year, officials say a total of 37 ticks have been submitted for identification, of which 19 have been identified as black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks.

    Although the number of ticks testing positive for the bacteria is seemingly low, the Health Unit reminds the public to exercise caution when outdoors.

    A few methods to prevent tick bites include using bug spray or other insect repellants that contain DEET or Icaridin, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, tucking your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks as well as wearing light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.

    In addition, search your clothes and body for ticks at least once a day, paying special attention to areas such as the groin, navel, armpits, scalp, behind ears and knees, dont forget to tick check children in your care, try to stay on cleared paths when possible, as ticks are more commonly found in wooded areas, or in tall grasses, bushes and shrubs and finally take a shower as soon as you can after being outdoors.

    And if you find one on your body, remove it carefully with tweezers by grasping the tick by the head as close to the skin as possible.

    Submitting Ticks To A Provincial Public Health Laboratory

    Ticks and Lyme Disease

    If possible, send any ticks that you have removed to a public health laboratory in your area. However, tick identification and testing is not done in all provinces of Canada.The following provinces accept submissions:

    Contact your local public health authority for details on:

    • the tick identification and testing program available in your area
    • how to submit a tick for testing

    The public health laboratory will:

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    How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed

    Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because symptoms are not consistent and may mimic other conditions. The primary symptom is a rash, but it may not be present in up to 20% of cases.

    Diagnosis for Lyme disease must be made by a healthcare provider experienced in recognizing Lyme disease. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and a history of a tick bite. Testing is generally done to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. This may need blood and other lab tests.

    Research is underway to develop and improve methods for diagnosing Lyme disease.

    The symptoms of Lyme disease may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

    How Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented

    Tick control and prevention methods significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. Maintaining antibodies against B. burgdorferi through vaccination can further protect your animal. Antibody amounts and duration of vaccine antibodies can vary in individuals. Verifying your animals antibody response to vaccination helps to assure durable protection.

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    Deer Tick Tests Positive For Lyme Disease In Southwestern Public Health Region

    Tick was recently collected from the Port Burwell area

    Today Southwestern Public Health confirmed a deer tick collected from Port Burwell has tested positive for the agent that causes Lyme disease.

    This is the first local deer tick to test positive in Elgin County for the 2021 season, however Port Burwell has been a risk area since 2019.

    This serves as a reminder to be vigilant when enjoying the outdoors in the area, said Amy Pavletic, Manager of Environmental Health for Southwestern Public Health.

    Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick. Once a tick is infected, it may transmit the Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi to humans through a bite. The best way to protect yourself from Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites. Ticks are often found in areas with tall grass and bushes and they attach to people who walk by. They cannot fly or jump.

    Steps to avoid tick bites:

    • Wearing long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, and fully closed boots/ shoes when walking in areas ticks like
    • Wearing light-coloured clothes to help see ticks
    • Using a bug spray with DEET
    • Doing a Tick Check after walks: shower and towel off to remove loose ticks, then check body for any ticks
    • Be aware of Lyme disease risk areas in Ontario
    • If a tick is found on a persons body, it is important to remove it as soon as possible
    • Transmission of Lyme disease is not likely to occur if the tick was attached for less than 24 hours