Warning! Ticks are on the Rise!!

During the end of winter season, people usually go outside in parks and woodlands to enjoy the warmth. They do a lot of outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and hunting. But what they don’t know is that when they go back to their homes, they bring this notorious parasite with them -- the ticks. 

Shocking news circled the internet last March when a golden retriever named Gracie got a lot of ticks after her owner brought her in a wooded area in Upstate, New York. The veterinarian was able to remove 72 ticks from the poor dog.   Some dogs are not that lucky. Ticks can kill.
 
Why You Should Fear Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that require a blood meal to lay eggs. They are unknowingly brought to homes since they cling to people’s clothes and skin as well as on pets, gears, and other items that people bring when they go to forests and other areas where they are present. 

This parasite is the main carrier of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease. The chances that a person might get this disease depends on the following factors: the kind of tick that has bitten the host, the location of the bite, and the length of time the tick was attached to its host. 

Initially, the person who got bitten by an infected tick will get a fever, headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, and swollen lymph nodes. As the infection progresses, numerous rashes will appear on the body. The person will finally lose his muscle tone, gets irregular heartbeat, and suffers inflammation in the spinal cord and brain. 

 A two-step blood test is used to diagnose Lyme disease. But if this test is done during the first weeks of the infection, a negative result might be obtained since it takes a few weeks before antibodies can develop. 

Every year, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention receives information about 300,000 cases of Lyme disease. The infection is more common in males who spend much time doing outdoor activities. People must be vigilant since it was reported that the cases will continue to rise in the years to come. 

If you develop reddish rashes and arthritis-like pain after being bitten by a tick, seek medical attention immediately.   Please call us if you need help or advice on dealing with a tick problem.