The Dangerous effect of Tick Bite on Humans.

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A few months ago, I wrote about the effect of ticks on our pets, you can read about it Here, in that post I tried to analyze the different types of existing ticks as well as their effects, but today I will be writing a certain disease that can be transmitted through ticks to humans and that is Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease is an illness in humans caused by a bacteria borrelia bacteria, humans would usually get the disease after being beaten by a tick that carries the bacteria. There is a strong chance of catching the disease if you live or spend time in the areas where the ticks reside, areas like wooded, grassy, or bushy regions are prone to these ticks, but there are also safety measures that can be put into place in order to reduce the chances of getting Lyme disease.

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Bear in mind that, not all types of ticks carry the bacteria, only nymphs which are immature deer ticks is an example of the tick that can carry the bacteria, they are about the size of a pinhead, and they pick up the bacteria when they feed on small rodents like mice that are infected with B burgdorferi. Humans will get infected with Lyme disease when they get bitten by an infected tick.

Lyme disease happens in three basic stages;
The first stage of the disease is called early localized Lyme disease, at this stage, the bacteria has not spread all through the body. Early symptoms of Lyme disease will begin to show within 3-30 days after the tick bite. A rash is a common sign of Lyme disease, but this is not always the case, as the rash is usually a single circle that spreads from the site of the tick bite, it is not usually painful or itchy and it feels warm when touched. Asides from the rash, other symptoms of Lyme disease include; Headache, Joint stiffness, fever, swollen lymph nodes as well as muscle aches and pains.

The second stage of Lyme disease is called early disseminated Lyme disease. Without treatment, the situation of Lyme disease would get worse, and the symptoms will begin to show up after 3-10 weeks of a tick bite. The symptoms of stage 2 Lyme infection is a more serious and widespread phase, the symptoms would be a more severe phase of the disease;

A more widespread rash all over the body.
Immune system activity in heart tissue causes irregular heartbeats.
Neck pain or neck stiffness.
Painful swelling in the tissues of the eye or the eyelid.
Weakness, numbness, and pains felt in the feet or hands.
Pain that begins from the back and hip region and spreads to the leg region.
Activities of the immune system in eye-nerve creating vision loss and pain of the eye.

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The third stage of Lyme disease is called disseminated Lyme disease, this stage of infection would have associated symptoms from the other previous types and additional symptoms. It has been reported that in the United States, the most common condition associated with this stage is arthritis in large joints, most especially the knee. Painful swelling or painful stiffness either last for a long time or may come and go. Stage 3 symptoms often start at about 2-12 months after a tick bite.

In Europe, Lyme disease causes a skin condition called acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans, this skin condition makes the skin on the backs of the hands and tops of the feet get swollen and discolored, it could also show up over the knees and the elbows, a more serious case could cause damage both to the tissues or the joints.

The problem is while describing the symptoms felt to a medical doctor, a lot of people do not even remember they have been bitten by a tick, often because the tick in itself is tiny and the bite could be a painless one. In order for a medical expert to diagnose the presence of Lyme disease, a blood test will be carried out. If the first blood test turns out negative for Lyme disease, then you may not need another test, but if the first process test is positive or equivocal, the medical expert will carry out another test, there have to be two results of being positive with Lyme disease in order to be diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Antibiotics are forms of effective treatments for Lyme disease, the length of treatment depends greatly on the stage of infection, the earlier you get treated, the more quickly it is for recovery to happen. Pregnant people should also receive treatment for Lyme disease, although some people say that, treating Lyme disease in pregnant women would lead to miscarriages, there is however no strong evidence to back that up

Here are steps to take when a tick bites you;

With the help of blunt tweezers, in a gentle but firm manner place the tweezers close to the head of the tick at the level of your skin, until it gets to the point where it releases its hold on your skin.
Be gentle enough not to crush the tick's body or handle the tick with your bare fingers, as doing so will expose you to the bacteria that the tick carries.
Proceed to wash the area of the bite severely using soap and water.
Do not use kerosene, petroleum jelly, or hot cigarette buts to take out the tick from your skin.
Instead of using your fingers to take out the tick, use tweezers instead.

Preventing a disease from occurring is an actually smart move, take these precautions to avoid tick bites;

You must be warmer when the weather is warm.
As much as you can, stay away from places with high grass.
If you compulsorily have to walk in these areas, make sure to take measures that will help you prevent tick bites.
Put on long sleeve tops and pants to help you protect yourself from the bite.
When you get home, you can take off your cloth and inspect the surfaces really well, if you feel anything strange, take a shower and inspect your body appropriately.

Conclusion.

Ticks are harmful to both pets and humans, but today, I have chosen to pay attention to one of the serious side effects of a tick bite on humans which is Lyme. The most important thing is to pay close attention to your body so you can be almost instantly notified when there is something strange and your health as well, so you know when to call a doctor.