Lyme Disease Is Increasing Get Tick Pest Control
Like many families across New York State, Sam M. of Rochester NY learned the hard way that ticks are no laughing matter. Over a period of 14 days Sam has woken up with over ten ticks on him. Instead of calling a pest exterminator or a tick pest control company, Sam brushed the situation off. Over a month passed and over the course of the month Sam started to notice a rash on his body, severe headaches that would last for long periods of time and muscle and joint pain. Sam decided to go to the doctor and his diagnosis was Lyme disease. Luckily for Sam the disease was caught in the early stages and was treated with antibiotics. But many people are not that lucky.
Lyme Disease has 3 stages and the further the disease progresses the increased chances of permanent damage. New York is one of 13 states in which Lyme disease cases have been reported. In 2011, New York ranked #2 in confirmed cases of Lyme disease, just behind New Jersey.
Stage 1: Early localized infection (1 to 4 weeks)
Some people in this stage will have a rash (called erythema migraines) at the site of the tick bite. The rash is usually circular and it gets larger over time. Other people don’t have any symptoms in the early stages of Lyme Disease and do not remember having had a tick bite which is why this disease can be so dangerous. Only about half the people infected with Lyme disease develop a rash within 1 to 4 weeks.
It is important to be able to recognize this type of rash if you live in areas where Lyme disease most often occurs. In the United States Lyme Disease is most common along the Atlantic coast, the Midwest, and parts of Oregon and California. The circular rash can be a sign of Lyme disease, especially when it appears during the summer months.
Some people with Lyme disease will have flu-like symptoms with or without a rash. These symptoms may include:
- Lack of energy, which is the most common symptom.
- Headache and stiff neck.
- Fever and chills.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
But remember in some cases of Lyme disease, the person does not notice any symptoms during this stage.
Stage 2: Early disseminated infection (1 to 4 months)
If Lyme disease is not detected and treated while early symptoms are present, or if you do not have early symptoms that trigger the need for treatment, the infection may affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart within weeks to months after the initial infection.
Symptoms at this stage may include:
- Additional skin rashes in several places on your body that develop as the infection, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs.
- Inability to control the muscles of the face (paralysis of the facial nerves).
- Recurring headaches or fainting.
- Poor memory and reduced ability to concentrate.
- Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) or sometimes damage to deep tissue in the eyes.
- Occasional rapid heartbeats (palpitations) or, in rare cases, serious heart problems.
Stage 3: Late persistent infections
If Lyme disease is not promptly or effectively treated, damage to the joints, nerves, and brain may develop months or years after you become infected (late Lyme disease). Symptoms at this stage may include:
- Swelling and pain (inflammation) in the joints, especially in the knees.
- Numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, or back.
- Severe fatigue.
- Partial facial nerve paralysis, which usually occurs within the first few months after the tick bite.
- Neurological changes, including problems with memory, mood, or sleep, and sometimes problems speaking.
- Chronic Lyme arthritis which causes recurring episodes of swelling, redness, and fluid buildup in one or more joints that last up to 6 months at a time.
We Are Tick Pest Control Experts
Here are a few tips to prevent picking up a tick with Lyme Disease:
Deer ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs and are usually no more than 18-24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.
Deer ticks cannot jump or fly and do not drop onto passing people or animals. They get on humans and animals only after direct contact. Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area.
In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself:
- Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
- Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
- Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
- Consider using insect repellent.
- Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
- Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
- Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
- Do a final full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.
Take The Time To Understand Ticks By Contacting Rochester #1 Exterminator
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If you discover ants, bees, mice or other pests in your home or yard, contact EnviroPest Exterminators for immediate relief. Our certified team is educated in the most advanced bed bug protocols and equipped with the state-of-the-art resources necessary for complete eradication of these pests. You can also sign up online or call. We’re the exterminators NY trusts and we look forward to discussing your issue.
