Ticks carry Lyme disease threat to Cape Ann
Katie Ryan is no different than any other 4-year-old girl on Cape Ann. She is a preschooler who plays in her backyard in West Gloucester. Earlier this summer, Katie became sick with flu-like symptoms, including a stiff neck, headache, and fever. Katie had Lyme disease.
"It was just very scary," said Katie's mother, Lisa Ryan. "We weren't camping, we weren't playing in the woods. She got this just from playing in the backyard."
According to information from the Mass. Department of Public Health, symptoms of Lyme disease usually begin three to 30 days after being bitten by an infected deer tick. These symptoms may include a rash at the site of the bite, and flu-like symptoms.
If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to arthritis, neurological problems, and cardiovascular problems.
Sunny Robinson, RN, public health nurse at the Gloucester Health Department said the department's goal is focused on prevention.
"It's very important for parents to teach their kids about Lyme disease so that the kids understand the importance of using insecticides when they are out in the woods, and showering when they come in from the woods or from [playing] sports, and learning to check themselves out," Robinson said.
There are several ways to avoid a bite from a Lyme disease-carrying tick. Robinson said when hiking or spending time in a grassy, woodsy area, to use a DEET based insect repellent on exposed clothing and exposed skin. Hiking through the middle of a path is beneficial, she said, because ticks are found on the underside of plants, and a tick can be transferred to a person when he or she brushes against the plant.
Robinson said the health department advises people to wear shoes, socks, and long pants tucked into the top of their socks. "It's always better to wear light colored socks and slacks, because then it makes it easier to spot a tick on you, should one get on you," she said.
After returning from being outdoors, even from one's own backyard if it is near the woods, a tick check should be conducted. "Literally check yourself from head to toe," Robinson said.
If a tick has bitten a person, Robinson said it should be removed with flat-tipped tweezers. "Slowly and steadily, pull it straight up and out," she said. "If you have removed a tick from yourself, it's a good idea to check in with your doctor, and if you've got the tick, take it with you."
Tick identification cards are available from the Gloucester Health Department. They are about the size of a credit card or license. The cards picture the actual size of deer and American dog ticks, and have information about where ticks are found and what to do if a tick has bitten a person.
Lyme disease diagnosis
If a tick is found on a person, it should be carefully removed as soon as possible. The health care provider should be notified if a deer tick bite has occurred or if a rash or other symptoms develop following a tick bite.
Katie Ryan had a fever that peaked at 103 degrees, and was accompanied by headaches, Lisa Ryan said. Ryan brought Katie to her doctor, who she said thought it was probably viral and to return in a few days if she was not feeling better.
"She still wasn't feeling better," Ryan said. Katie had developed a cough, and the doctor did a chest X-ray and ruled out pneumonia. About one week later, Katie's doctor did blood work, and asked Ryan a series of questions, one being if she had any ticks or bugs. Ryan had in fact pulled a tick off Katie earlier in the season, she said.
The results of Katie's blood work came back positive for Lyme disease with the ELISA test, which is a rapid and sensitive screening for Lyme disease antibodies. "[Katie's doctor] put her on antibiotics as soon as the ELISA test came back positive," Ryan said.
About one week later, the Western Blot test results came back positive. The Western Blot confirms the results of the ELISA test.
Katie was prescribed to take amoxicillin three times a day for four weeks, Ryan said.
"She immediately started feeling better, in like two days," Ryan said.
The challenge in diagnosing Lyme disease is that the symptoms can appear to be those of a flu or virus, Robinson said.
"The classic to Lyme disease is a red rash at the site of the bite that seems to grow and spread, and then it starts to get white in the center as it spreads out. That's the classic symptom, but not everybody gets that symptom," she said.
The other problem is that if symptoms occur early on, and a blood test is done, it may come back negative, Robinson said.
Making preventative changes
Changes can be made to the landscape surrounding a house that can have a positive effect on the prevalence of ticks in that property. Robinson suggests keeping shrubbery away from the house, as ticks can live in that shrubbery, and keeping grass relatively short.
"If you do live surrounded by woods, creating a barrier space at the edge of your yard with either crushed stone or a heavy, course mulch can be helpful in that it helps keep the deer and white footed mouse…out of your yard," Robinson said. Deer and mice are carriers of ticks.
"We all delight at waking up in the morning and seeing a deer in our yard, but in fact a tick may have ridden in on that deer," Robinson said.
There are insect repellent products on the market that can be applied to pets that work to keep ticks and other insects off pets.
"One hates to put insecticides on your pets, but it's better than you or your pet getting Lyme disease," Robinson said. "Everything is risk-benefit."
Lisa Ryan said Katie is feeling much better and is happy.