Lyme Disease Warning: Mild Winter Leads to 'Uptick' in Ticks
This year's pleasant winter weather was a relief to many,
but now that summer is here, it’s coming back to bite us – literally. As a result of the mild winter, health
officials are predicting an increase in the number of ticks this summer,
increasing the chances of contracting Lyme disease. The lxodes tick, also known as the deer tick or the black-legged tick,
is the carrier of this potentially fatal bacterial infection.
Patients can guard against tick bites by covering up,
wearing insect repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET, and removing
ticks as soon as possible with tweezers. Patients should contact their doctor
immediately if they experience rash or flu-like symptoms following a tick bite.
As vacation season begins, counsel your patients on the risks associated with
ticks.
Inform
patients about ISMS' educational web page on Lyme disease.
Post this infographic
on your practice website, share via social media, or hang in your exam rooms.