Ticks carry Lyme disease. Here’s what to do if one bites you
- 7 years ago
NEW YORK — Thanks to the exploding mice population across the northeastern United States, this year looks like it’s going to be a bumper one for the ticks that the rodents play host to.
Ticks carry Lyme disease, which gives humans rashes, swollen lymph nodes and a host of other symptoms.
Speaking to NPR, Dr. Brian Fallon, who directs the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research at Columbia University Medical Center, said people living in areas affected by Lyme disease should check their bodies daily for ticks.
And If you do find one, you shouldn’t panic,
Using tweezers, carefully remove the tick by pulling its mouth out of the skin.
Do not squeeze the tick’s body, as this can cause the contents of its stomach to burst onto the skin. Also, don’t use petroleum jelly or smoke to remove it.
Check with the Centers for Disease Control if Lyme disease is a problem in your area. Save the tick for lab testing. Monitor your health, and if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, consult a doctor.
Around 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported in the U.S. each year, but health officials believe the true number to be 10 times that.
Ticks carry Lyme disease, which gives humans rashes, swollen lymph nodes and a host of other symptoms.
Speaking to NPR, Dr. Brian Fallon, who directs the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research at Columbia University Medical Center, said people living in areas affected by Lyme disease should check their bodies daily for ticks.
And If you do find one, you shouldn’t panic,
Using tweezers, carefully remove the tick by pulling its mouth out of the skin.
Do not squeeze the tick’s body, as this can cause the contents of its stomach to burst onto the skin. Also, don’t use petroleum jelly or smoke to remove it.
Check with the Centers for Disease Control if Lyme disease is a problem in your area. Save the tick for lab testing. Monitor your health, and if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, consult a doctor.
Around 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported in the U.S. each year, but health officials believe the true number to be 10 times that.