Tick bites: How to prevent Lyme Disease?

Published on : 29 October 20213 min reading time
Lyme Disease is very common in America, Australia and especially in Europe. People who frequent forests a lot are the most exposed to this disease. Lyme Disease can be considered dangerous, as many patients with this disease have developed severe forms. However, there are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself from Lyme Disease.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease, also known as borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by a tick infected with a bacterium called borrelia. Through a tick bite or sting, the disease is easily transmitted to humans. However, this disease is not contagious as it is not transmitted from one person to another. However, it must be taken into account that domestic animals can carry the tick home. Lyme borreliosis can affect several organs, but it is not fatal. If the disease is not treated in time, complications can be serious, even leading to paralysis. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to prevent it.

How does Lyme Disease manifest itself?

It is important to note that the disease is rather difficult to diagnose, as the bite mark is often invisible, which can lead to several infections. Indeed, the evolution of the disease continues in three different phases. The first phase occurs during the first month after the bite. Indeed, a lesion at the level of the bitten zone appears as a red spot surrounded by a kind of ring. Then, during the second phase, the bacteria attack the nerve cells, the heart, the eyes, the muscles and also cause pain in the joints. The last phase, the tertiary phase, is manifested by neurological complications and the disease can become chronic if left untreated. In fact, this stage is due to the absence of symptoms even though the patient suffers from them. Because of the complication in the nerve cells, Lyme Disease can lead to paralysis and also to organic depression.

How to prevent Lyme Disease?

First of all, it is important to know that the vaccine to prevent Lyme Disease is not yet available for the pathogenic species in Europe. Therefore, it is important to protect yourself when hiking or walking in the forest, as this is the safest way to avoid Lyme Disease. Then it is also essential to wear clothes that cover the whole body, if possible, because the tick can attack even the scalp. Then clothing should be covered with repellents. Finally, when returning from the tick area, clothing should be carefully observed and checked in case ticks have attached themselves to it so that they can be removed and the worst can be avoided. As for pets, ticks that may have attached themselves to their hair can be removed with tick repellent powders.