More than30,000 casesof Lyme occureach year acrossthe country, theCDC estimates.To the summer hazards of too muchsun and heat, add the perils of tiny pestscarrying infections, such asLyme diseaseand chikungunya, that cause joint pain.
The number of people sickened by tickandmosquito-borne diseases in the U.S.has risen to record levels recently, accordingto the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC).
Tick Risks
By far the most common tick-borne illnessis Lyme disease – transmitted bythe deer tick, which grows to about thesize of a sesame seed. In up to 80 percentof those infected, Lyme causes a round,red skin lesion that can grow as large as12 inches wide and linger for a couple ofweeks. (Less than a third of these infectionscause the bull’s-eye rash considereda defining sign of Lyme disease.)
While most common in New Englandand the Upper Midwest,Lyme diseasehas been reported in every state, saysJohnAucott, MD, associate professorat Johns Hopkins University Schoolof Medicine in Baltimore and directorof the Lyme Disease Research Center.Unlike many mosquito-borne illnesses,“most Lyme disease is transmitted inyour own environment,” he says.
The first symptoms are flu-like – fatigue,fever and achiness. If Lyme disease isn’ttreated with antibiotics in that early stage,it can lead to late Lyme arthritis, whichoften involves knee pain and swelling.
Mosquito Menaces
TheAedes aegyptimosquito can carryviral diseases such as chikungunya,Zika and dengue that cause jointpain as well as fever, rash andheadache – and the joint paincan be even more severe forpeople with existing arthritis.
Although this mosquito, themain type that spreads thesediseases, has been found in manystates, most U.S. cases come fromtravel to tropical areas, says Houstonrheumatologist Rajat Bhatt, MD.
Protect Yourself
Avoid tall grasses and leaflitter, andusea tick preventive on pets. For yourself,use an insect repellant registered bythe EPA, such as DEET, and wear longsleeves and pants (in light colors to easilyspot ticks). Treat your clothes and shoeswith permethrin or buy clothing that’spretreated to repel insects. And whenyou get inside, check your whole body forticks.
Related Resources:
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