It's Prime Time for Lyme Disease, Warns Association

Spring in New Jersey is the time to seriously think about Lyme disease.

In 2010, NJ ranked 2nd nationally in reported cases, and Monmouth County ranked 3rd statewide.

Concern about Lyme is why the Lyme Disease Association and the Holmdel High School PTSO are co-sponsoring a Lyme information forum at the school on Thursday, April 26, 2012. 

Many of the first reported cases were on, or surrounding, nearby Naval Weapons Station Earle in the early 1980s. It is appropriate then, that the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Commission will identify and test ticks for residents.

There are four stages of the deer tick─ egg, larva, nymph, adult (see photo.) The nymph stage poppy-seed sized deer tick and causes the most Lyme disease, but the larger adults in the picture also carry and/or transmit Lyme.

Other ticks of concern found in this area include the American dog tick (transmits ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, and tularemia) and the lone star tick, which can transmit those three diseases plus STARI, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, which looks, acts and is treated like Lyme and can have the same rash.

Both ticks are considerably bigger than the deer tick.

Children ages 5-14 are at the highest risk of acquiring Lyme and other tick-borne diseases (TBD). 

The deer tick can transmit more than one disease with one bite. Symptoms vary, and misdiagnosis is common. Early treatment is important to prevent later stages including arthritic, neurologic, and heart related complications.  

Less than 50% of those who get Lyme develop the classic bull’s eye rash─some people get different kinds of rashes or none at all.

Infected pregnant women should be under a physician’s care, since Lyme can cause birth defects and death of the fetus.

NJ ranks very high in cases of babesiosis, another TBD transmitted by a deer tick bite. A malaria-like illness sometimes fatal to the elderly and those with no spleen, and it may be more severe in patients with co-existing Lyme. Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sweats and anemia.    

If you find an attached tick, never squeeze or twist it, or apply substances or heat to it. Instead, put tweezers close to the skin, pull the tick straight out, clean the site and see a doctor. Do not depend on Lyme tests─ they are not always accurate; you can test negative and still have the disease. Your physician needs to make a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, history, and ruling out other diseases, with testing an adjunct to those findings.

Go to the Lyme Disease Association (LDA) website to request free educational literature & learn more about prevention, symptoms and treatment of Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A section of the site contains information on Lyme & kids & schools, including a free prevention video, an interactive video for kids, and a PowerPoint which can be run from your computer. Know that you can get infected year round, even in above-freezing temperatures. 

Also register for the LDA’s on-line doctor referral to find a Lyme literate physician.  LDA is a NJ-based national non-profit dedicated to raising funds for research, education, and patient support based in Jackson and Wall Township. 

Attend the LDA-Holmdel PTSO sponsored April 26, 2012 Lyme forum at Holmdel High School at 7 p.m. for more in depth coverage of Lyme. www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org