Is there more than one way to contract Lyme disease?

Are there many ways to get Lyme disease?

Theoretically, there is more than one way to become infected with Lyme disease. But is it likely for you to contract Lyme infection through any other means than the bite of an infected tick?

Is there more than one way to contract Lyme disease?

Can you be infected with Lyme disease via blood transfusion?

The CDC says that even though it has been found that the bacteria that cause Lyme infection can live in stored blood, no cases have been confirmed in this manner.

Can you be infected from kissing another person or your pet?

According to the CDC, there is zero evidence that kissing another person will expose us to Lyme infection. It is also not possible to contract Lyme infection through your pet’s saliva.

Can a mother pass Lyme infection to her unborn fetus?

Experts believe, while is it possible, it is highly unlikely for a mother to pass this disease to her unborn fetus. What’s more, if a mother becomes infected while pregnant, she can receive antibiotics without adverse effects on the fetus.

Can pregnant moms pass Lyme to their unborn fetus?

Who’s at greater risk for Lyme disease infection?

While anyone can contract Lyme disease, some of us are more prone to infection. Children and pets are at higher risk, because they are closer to the ground than adults. Pets even more so because they venture into places, where ticks hide. Fur can obscure a tick on your pet, thereby making them at greater risk to have a tick attach to their body without us knowing. Others, who are at high risk of tick bites are nature-seekers, such as campers and hikers. Additionally, those, who work outdoors are at greater risk of infection. This is simply because they are at greater risk of encountering a tick on a typical day.

Lyme Disease Prevention Through Tick Control & Prevention

Preventing Lyme disease primarily involves minimizing exposure to ticks. This includes using repellents and wearing long sleeves and pants in high-risk areas. It also involves conducting tick checks after outdoor activities. Early detection and prompt treatment can effectively manage Lyme disease, and reduce the risk of long-term complications.

What is Lyme Disease and Should I be Concerned?

Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in Central Mass and the United States.

However, everyone is not so familiar with what Lyme infection actually is. Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria carried by young deer ticks. If one bites you, you can get Lyme disease. Ticks can bite you anywhere on your body, but they usually bite in hard-to-see parts of your body such as the groin, scalp, and armpits. The ticks that cause Lyme disease are tiny, as small as a speck of dirt. So you may not even know you have been bitten.

If left untreated, Lyme infection can cause serious health problems affecting your joints, heart, and nervous system. But if diagnosed early, most cases of Lyme disease can be cured after a few weeks of treatment with antibiotics.

What Signs Do I Need To Watch For To Determine If I Need A Test For Lyme Disease?

You may need a Lyme disease test if you have symptoms of infection. The first symptoms of Lyme disease usually show up between three and 30 days after the tick bite.

They may include:

A distinctive skin rash that looks like a bull’s-eye (a red ring with a clear center)
Fever
Chills
Headache
Fatigue
Muscle aches

You may also need a Lyme disease test if you don’t have symptoms, but are at risk for infection. You may be at a higher risk if you:

Recently removed a tick from your body
Walked in a heavily wooded area, where ticks live, without covering exposed skin or wearing repellent
Have done either of the above activities and live in or have recently visited the northeast or Midwestern areas of the United States, where most Lyme disease cases occur

Lyme disease in Central Massachusetts is most treatable in its early stages, but you may still benefit from testing later on. Symptoms that can show up weeks or months after the tick bite may include:

Severe headache
Neck stiffness
Severe joint pain and swelling
Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
Memory and sleep disorders

What Does Getting Tested For Lyme Infection Entail?

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 your health care provider thinks you have Lyme disease, he or she will prescribe antibiotic treatment. Most people who are treated with antibiotics in the early stage of this disease recover.

Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Lyme Disease with These Precautions

Dave Macchia, Central Mass tick control enthusiast

Avoid walking in wooded areas with high grass.
Walk in the center of trails.
Wear long pants and tuck them into your boots or socks.
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to your skin and clothing.
At home, enlist professional Acton tick control providers to treat the areas around your exterior perimeter where ticks are most likely to dwell.

Is there a link between Lyme infection and celiac disease?

I recently happened upon an interesting claim online.

A person wrote in a forum that though they could not prove it, they believed there is a link between Lyme infection and celiac disease. And to their credit, anecdotally, this was true for them. Recently diagnosed with celiac disease, this person got to talking to someone they know, who also has it. During this conversation, they found another commonality. Both celiac disease sufferers had been diagnosed earlier in life with Lyme disease. This certainly begs the question: Is there a link between Lyme infection and celiac disease?

Is there a link between Lyme infection and celiac disease? — Lyme infection and celiac disease – does Lyme result in celiac for some people?

Lyme infection and celiac disease do have some parallels.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States. There are many maddening facts about a Lyme diagnosis. One of those is that the disease can mimic other conditions. At the onset, it can feel like flu. Some sufferers do not seek medical attention at that stage. When they do, symptoms can be mistaken for other ailments. When undiagnosed and early stages, Lyme disease becomes chronic, resulting in a myriad of symptoms. It stands to reason that the question concerning the link between Lyme infection and celiac disease would eventually come up.

According to The University of Chicago Medicine, there are about three million celiac disease sufferers in the United States, with an estimated 97% undiagnosed. What’s more, there are links between celiac disease and other conditions. For instance, 6% of people with type 1 diabetes also have celiac disease. Celiac is an autoimmune disease, which has known links to other autoimmune disorders, including Multiple Sclerosis, Addison’s Disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Celiac and Lyme are two tales of misunderstood diseases, but is there a link between the two? What is known is that both conditions have been steadily increasing. What’s more, both diseases are on the upswing in similar geographical territories. Just like Lyme disease, celiac disease is most prevalent in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. It is also suggested that celiac can be triggered by previous infections. Could Lyme infection be a trigger for a future celiac diagnosis?

A study was performed to investigate a possible link between Lyme infection and celiac disease.

In Sweden, where both diseases have high occurrences, it was found that those with previous Lyme diagnoses were at a slightly increased risk for celiac disease. However, it was also determined that those with celiac were at a slightly elevated risk of a Lyme diagnosis. This only confirmed surveillance bias. Surveillance bias means that because both diseases are so prevalent in the region, doctors are more likely to test for markers of either disease due to an overlap in symptoms. Finally, according to the study, “a very small proportion—less than 0.2 percent—had previously had Lyme disease, offering further evidence that Lyme disease does not represent a substantive risk factor in the development of celiac disease.”

Lyme disease prevention is available.

Dave Macchia, tick control enthusiast — Dave Macchia, Central Mass tick control enthusiast

Perhaps the most maddening about Lyme infection, is that it can be prevented with proper tick protocols. This means using personal tick repellent and protective clothing when hiking and camping. It also means considering professional tick control measures around your home. Reputable tick control companies offer year-round programs that can drastically reduce your Lyme infection risk.

Morgellons, Chronic Condition Associated with Lyme Infection

Through the years, we have heard from chronic Lyme sufferers and conditions associated with their illness.

Can previous Lyme infection really be the cause of Morgellons disease? What is Morgellons? Over the last couple of decades, this mysterious illness has become a point of contention among the medical community. From dermatologists to psychiatrists, Morgellons is a hot-button topic. Patients present skin ulcers, which some dismiss as self-inflicted abrasions due to a psychological condition known as Excoriation disorder, associated with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Many dermatologists and family practitioners saw patients with these lesions and referred them to psychiatrists for treatment. In 2002, the first case was documented with one difference – fibers were present in the lesions. This led to the eventual connection with previous Lyme infection.

What is the link between Lyme infection and Morgellons disease?

What were the fibers?

The fibers were originally thought to be from patients’ clothing, bedding, or towels. Upon further investigation of the make-up of the fibers in Morgellons patients, it was determined that the fibers were being produced by their bodies. They are made of keratin and collagen, two naturally-occurring proteins. This is where the connection to Lyme infection was made. Research over the last few years is said to show that the keratin and collagen fibers result from an over-production process that began with spirochetal infection. The species of the spirochetes is Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Even still, many medical professionals declare that Morgellons is 100% psychological, claiming that the fibers are from clothing or linens. Genetic, immunology, and hormonal studies are recommended as we continue to learn more about Morgellons. Current treatments may include antibiotics that are used in early Lyme diagnoses, with some patients reporting remission. Others are still being treated with drugs that control tics and psychosis.

What are other chronic conditions related to previous Lyme infection?

When a person has asymptomatic early stage Lyme disease or are misdiagnosed in the early stages of Lyme, they could develop chronic Lyme disease. Chronic Lyme can cause joint pain, fatigue, and even cognitive disorders that mimic Alzheimer’s. While patients cannot be cured, many seek the help of Rheumatologists, Lyme specialized physicians, or natural medicine practitioners. Morgellons is just one more anomaly that is said to be the result of a bite from an infected tick.

Charlton tick control for tick bite prevention.

tick control Massachusetts Due to the seriousness of tick-born diseases, such as Lyme disease, and now Morgellons disease, it is imperative that we protect our families from the threat of tick bites. There is no 100% guaranteed method of tick elimination, but year-round control solutions are available in Central Massachusetts. Professional tick control begins in the springtime with barrier yard spray – either EPA-registered or all-natural yard treatment. In the late fall, it continues with tick tubes, which help break the tick life cycle and reduce the number of emerging ticks in the spring.

Why is Lyme disease more prevalent in the Northeastern US?

Black-legged tick populations are plentiful in the South. Why are there fewer cases of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. There are an estimated 300K cases each year. Though, according to the CDC, the vast majority of those cases are not confirmed. The line of infection versus non-infection is quite blurred. What is clear, is the imbalance of confirmed Lyme disease cases in the Northeastern and Southeastern United States – even though deer ticks are rampant in both regions. Scientists believe they have found clear answers to this quandary! Clarification begins with mice and lizards.

The white-footed mouse is a massive Lyme bacteria spreader in the Northeast.

In our area, ticks often seek their blood meals from small rodents, like the white-footed mouse. This little, furry creature is a common carrier of Borrelia bacteria, which are responsible for Lyme infection in humans and animals. More importantly, they are a very virile transmitters of these harmful bacteria. After passing them to a black-legged tick, the tick might then seek its next blood meal from a human. If the tick is attached 36 to 48 hours, they are apt to pass those bacteria, which can result in Lyme infection.

mice spread Lyme disease bacteria to ticks — Mice are great transmitters of Lyme-causing bacteria.

Lizards transmit Lyme causing bacteria in the Southeastern US.

Though lizards are some of the main carries of Borrelia bacteria south of the Virginia-North Carolina border, there is one catch. They are not strong transmitters of the bacteria. Though ticks often feed on these smooth-scaled skinks, they are less likely to receive a strong does of the pathogens when taking their blood meal. A recent two-year study found that areas, where black-legged ticks feed on the blood of these lizards, are less likely to have reports of Lyme infection than areas, where they feed on rodents, like the white-footed mouse. There were far less infected black-legged ticks in the Southeast than in the Northeast.

lizards do not transmit Lyme pathogens well — Lizards are less likely to pass Lyme causing pathogens to ticks.

Another reason southern ticks pass less Lyme pathogens to humans.

The hotter, sunnier climate in southern states means that the questing habits of ticks are different than in northern states. To avoid dehydration, ticks in the South will quest under vegetation, remaining close to the forest floor. This means that they take less human blood meals. Ticks in Massachusetts, quest farther from the ground. They crawl on higher vegetation, where they often encounter humans and pets to obtain their blood meal.

southern ticks stay on the forest — Southern ticks lie closer to the forest floor to avoid dehydration.

See more tick and Lyme disease questions and answers:

Hingham Tick Control: Essential Lyme Infection Prevention

tick tubes — Tick tubes offer year-round tick control.

Even though we have snow on the ground, it’s never too early to plan for tick control in Central Mass. Professional tick control companies offer season-long and year-round protection options. Reputable companies will also offer special event sprays, all-natural formulas, and even year-round tick protection with tick tubes. With tick populations and Lyme infections on the rise, professional tick control is a necessary part of your family’s health and well-being.

Tag: Lyme infection