OHIO — Warmer weather means that people are already ready to get outside, but it’s also time for ticks which can transmit Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection which usually causes symtpoms such as a rash, fever, headache or fatigue. If not treated early enough, the infection can spread to joints, heart and nervous system.
What You Need To Know
- Ticks come out in May, when warmer weather arrives, and they can cause Lyme disease
- Dr. Dan Sullivan, from the Cleveland Clinic said to look for ticks after spending time outdoors
- A tick bite may look like a bullseye
- It can take about 36 hours before ticks can make someone sick
Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Dan Sullivan, MD, says the early symptoms people may notice are a bite or rash.
“The rash occurs several days after the bite, and initially is a small red area that can slowly expand and then the center starts to clear so it almost looks like a bullseye,” Sullivan said.
Some patients can also experience flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, low grade fever and sometimes headaches.
Sullivan said ticks are in backyards and in outdoor recreational areas making it vital to check for them after coming back inside.
“If we do, get a small tweezers and pull them off,” Sullivan said. “It takes these ticks roughly at least 36 hours before they can make us ill.”
If bitten, the first 36 hours are crucial, to reduce the chances of getting sick.
“It’s really important to notice if we get that tick off within 36 hours,” Sullivan said. “If it’s only a longer, roughly 8% of people will possibly get Lyme disease and that can be treated, and treated well by all of our health care practitioners.”
