What Is Lyme Disease?
What if we told you that one of the most reported infectious diseases in Maine was spread by the bite of an infected deer tick? Would you be surprised? Probably not as the deer tick and Lyme disease have become almost synonymous with one another, especially in the last decade. But what is Lyme disease and is it really anything residents of Auburn, Manchester, or any other Maine community should be aware of? As May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, we thought now would be a great time to answer these questions.
Lyme disease defined
Lyme disease is caused by spirochete- a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks- also known as deer ticks in our neck of the woods.
Appropriately called “The Great Imitator”, individuals with Lyme disease are often misdiagnosed with depression, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and other health conditions as well as psychiatric illnesses.
More about the ticks that spread Lyme in Maine
According to this article released in 2021, the CDC estimates that 476,000 people acquire Lyme disease every year. It also noted that Maine has the highest incidence rate of Lyme in the nation. So, while it’s important to be aware of the risk, we’d like to bring a little levity to the situation by reminding our readers that not every deer tick in Maine is capable of transmitting Lyme. Only the ones that are infected can spread the disease.
Click here for more information about deer ticks and other types of ticks in Maine.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Early signs of Lyme disease often show up anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the tick bite and include:
Fevers
Chills
Headaches
Fatigue
Muscle & joint aches
A bull’s eye rash or other Erythema migraines rashes
Later signs of Lyme may become apparent days to months after the tick bite and include, but are not limited to:
Severe headaches
Neck stiffness
Arthritis with severe joint pain & swelling
Nerve pain
Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
Heart palpitations
Facial palsy
Erythema migrans rashes on other areas of the body
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Poor sleep
Brain fog
Blurred vision
Chronic upset stomach
Hallucinations
Mood swings
Risk factors for Lyme disease
The most common risk factors for Lyme disease include:
Spending time in wooded or grassy areas
Having exposed skin when spending time in areas prone to deer ticks
Not removing ticks right away or correctly
How to you reduce your potential exposure to Lyme disease
The best way to stay Lyme-free is to protect yourself from deer ticks. In addition to having your property professionally treated for ticks, try implementing these tick prevention tips:
Mow your lawn regularly (ticks don’t like short grass nearly as much as they do tall grass)
Remove brush, leaves, and other organic matter from your property
Trim back dense overgrowth
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when spending time in tick-infested areas
Use insect repellent (if you’re not sure what to apply, speak with your family doctor)
Consult your veterinarian about tick preventatives for your pets
Check yourself, your family members, and pets after spending any amount of time outdoors
Professional tick control in Maine
At Advanced Pest Solutions, we realize ticks are a serious threat in Maine and that’s why we offer seasonal tick treatments. Our service actually targets ticks AND mosquitoes and starts with a thorough inspection to identify tick and mosquito harborages. Upon completion of our inspection, we’ll perform monthly yard treatments (April – September) targeting fence lines, shrubs, bushes, ornamentals, overgrowth, trees, under decks, and other hotspots we find.
Contact us today for help reducing tick activity on your property
For tick control pricing and additional information, please contact Advanced Pest Solutions today!