Lyme Disease on Long Island . Summer is here and that means we get to enjoy many of the wonderful outdoor activities that Long Island has to offer. Unfortunately, while we enjoy our parks, woodlands, beaches, and even our own backyards, we have to be mindful of ticks and the diseases they carry.
There are three types of ticks commonly found on Long Island, dog tick, lone star tick and deer tick. Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States is caused by the pirochete bacteria which transmitted by the deer tick. In 60-80 percent of cases, a rash resembling a bull’s eye or solid patch, about two inches in diameter, appears and expands around or near the site of the bite.
The early stage of Lyme disease is usually marked by one or more of the following symptoms: chills and fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, muscle and/or joint pain, and swollen glands. If Lyme disease is unrecognized or untreated in the early stage, more severe symptoms may occur. As the disease progresses, severe fatigue, a stiff aching neck, and tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, or facial paralysis can occur.
The most severe symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months or years after the tick bite. These can include severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of the joints, and heart and central nervous system problems.
Early treatment of Lyme disease involves antibiotics and almost always results in a full cure. However, the chances of a complete cure decrease if treatment is delayed. While ticks are commonplace in many areas of Long Island, you can still enjoy our diverse natural habitats by taking some preventative steps to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.
What you can do to prevent Lyme disease Deer ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, 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 by direct contact. Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area.
- 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 and check again once indoors.
- • Consider using insect repellent. Follow label directions.
- • Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.
- • Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
- • Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
Creating a Tick-Free Zone around Your Home While deer ticks are most abundant in wooded areas, they are also commonly found in our lawns and shrubs. Although it may not be possible to create a totally tick-free zone, taking the following precautions will greatly reduce the tick population in your yard.
- • Keep grass mowed.
- • Remove leaf litter, brush and weeds at the edge of the lawn.
- • Restrict the use of groundcover, such as pachysandra in areas frequented by family and roaming pets.
- • Move firewood piles and bird feeders away from the house.
- • Manage pet activity; keep dogs and cats out of the woods to reduce ticks brought into the home.
- • Use plantings that do not attract deer (contact your local Cooperative Extension or garden center for suggestions).
- • Move children’s swing sets and sand boxes away from the woodland edge. • Trim tree branches and shrubs around the lawn edge to let in more sunlight.
- • If you consider a pesticide application as a targeted treatment, do not use any pesticide near streams or any body of water, as it may kill aquatic life or pollute the water itself.
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