This year’s unusually warm winter has created ideal conditions for early tick activity in many parts of Michigan. In fact the Lone star tick is the latest blood thirsty invader to cause alarm; due in part to the bacteria it carries called Borrelia burgdorferi. This particular bacterium causes Lyme disease, a serious illness which can cause permanent damage in individuals who are not treated in the early stages of the disease. According to the latest research, the number of human cases of Lyme disease between 2000 and 2004 were 30; however by 2009 that number had tripled to 90 cases and by 2013, the number of cases reported was 166 and rising. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases of Lyme disease nationwide could be as many as 10 times the number of reported causes. The symptoms of Lyme disease are often misdiagnosed since they often mimic flu like symptoms.
Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis Story
In January 2013, Heather Feldkamp, a 44 year old resident of Saline, Michigan complained of numbness in her right leg. Believing she had sciatica, she visited her chiropractor for treatment until she began to experience the same numbness in her left leg. She made an appointment with her primary care physician who referred her to a neurologist. An MRI ordered by her neurologist later discovered that Heather had breast cancer. Although she was treated and made a full recovery from her breast cancer diagnosis, the tingling and numbness in her legs continued. Both her primary care physician and her oncologist believed the symptoms were related to her breast cancer. Unconvinced, Heather made an appointment with a holistic doctor knowledgeable in Lyme disease. After testing, it was discovered that Heather tested positive for Lyme. Heather doesn’t remember experiencing a tick bite, or the signature bull’s-eye rash which is synonymous with the disease. Heather is one of the many causes of Lyme disease which go undiagnosed each year.
Treatment of Lyme Disease in Early & Late Stages
According to the CDC, the best form of treatment is take a course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor for up to three weeks when the disease is diagnosed early. If the disease is diagnosed in the later stages, the CDC recommends a longer course of antibiotics administered over several months. One of the frustrations experienced by the victims of Lyme disease occurs when further testing confirms that the disease is gone but the symptoms remain. This is referred to as post-Lyme disease syndrome
Tick Proofing Yard & Lyme Disease Prevention
As ticks with the potential to spread Lyme disease continue to move across the state of Michigan, the knowledgeable experts at Knock Em out Pest Control recommend that residents take precautions to stop the spread of disease by avoiding area where ticks are present and using repellents containing permethrin on clothing. Make it a habit to check yourself and family members for ticks and if you find one remove it as quickly as possible. If you are bitten the chances of contracting Lyme disease are almost none providing you remove the tick within 24 hours of exposure.
Stinging Insect Pest Inspections, Control & Removal in Bloomfield Hills, Canton, Farmington Hills, Milford, New Hudson, Northville, Novi, South Lyon, Wixom & Greater Ann Arbor, Michigan
For more information regarding tick prevention and control for your Michigan home or business, contact the knowledgeable experts at Knock Em Out Pest Control today.
