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Tick season has begun

May 27, 2020 |

If you remove a tick, save and send it for testing which will determine the type of tick and if it was carrying pathogens. Ticks can transmit pathogens other than Lyme disease such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. This information will help to guide decision-making about treatment. Visit www.tickreport.com for details.

Removing the tick as soon as possible is advisable, but it doesn’t guarantee that transmission hasn’t occurred. Powassan virus, for example, can be transmitted in less than 15 minutes.
Individuals with Lyme disease may develop a rash known as an Erythema Migrans (EM). Sometimes referred to as a “bull’s-eye,” this slowly expanding rash may appear in circular form with central clearing. It’s important to note that the appearance of the EM rash is variable, and it’s not always present. There is dispute about how frequently it appears. Some report the rash to be present in 70-80% of cases while others report a frequency as low as 27%. One study showed that the classic bull’s-eye appeared in only 9% of cases.

It’s also important to know that medical opinion about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is deeply divided. There are two schools of thought, each reflected in its own set of guidelines; one authored by the Infectious Diseases Society of America  and the other by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Current diagnostic tests for Lyme disease are unreliable and often inaccurate. Since a missed diagnosis or inadequate treatment can have life-altering consequences, educating yourself is critical.

The best course of action is to prevent a tick bite in the first place. But if you are bitten, or suspect that you may have Lyme disease, you face an important choice. Select a practitioner whose approach makes the most sense to you. Your future health may depend upon it.

Jennifer Shea
Longmeadow

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