Protect yourself from Lyme disease

The peak time for contracting Lyme disease is April through July. To decrease your risk of exposure to Lyme disease, transmitted by an infected deer tick, take these precautions:

• Clear away brush, leaves and overgrown grass from around your home.
• Dress in light-colored clothing to be able to spot ticks easily.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors where ticks are prevalent.
• Tuck pants and socks into your boots when hiking.
• Spray clothing with insect repellent. Check the label to be sure it will work for ticks and follow instructions carefully.
• Examine your skin and scalp for ticks right before you go indoors.

Use fine tipped tweezers to grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull the tick away from the skin, then clean the area with antiseptic. Or try placing an insect repellent soaked Q-Tip on the tick. A physician may have to remove the tick if it becomes embedded in the skin. Since all ticks are not infected, a bite does not always cause Lyme disease. Even when the tick is infected, it may not transfer the disease to you. However, the longer an infected tick is attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting Lyme disease.

• Rash. If you are infected you may develop a rash around the bite that looks like a bull's eye. A general rash at the bite site also can be a symptom. If Lyme disease is diagnosed, your physician will prescribe antibiotics.
• Flu-like symptoms. If you think you've been exposed to Lyme disease and you develop muscle or joint aches, fatigue, fever and headache, check with your physician.
• Swollen joint. This discomfort may be caused by Lyme disease or something else. Your physician can order lab tests to diagnose the problem.

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