APRIL NEWSLETTER 2017

Post date: Apr 13, 2017 2:41:17 PM

TICKS TICKS TICKS

Along with the wonderful spring time weather comes the increased risk of exposure to ticks. Dog ticks and deer ticks are the most common types of ticks found in Massachusetts, each carrying the potential for illness if bitten. Deer ticks carry the most common tick borne illness, Lyme Disease. However, dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

The most important thing to help prevent tick borne illness is to check your body everyday for the presence of ticks. Ticks that have attached should be removed as soon as possible using a pair of fine point tweezers, grabbing the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pulling straight out.

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE

  • expanding circular rash-may look like a red bulls-eye

  • fever

  • joint and muscle pain

  • headache

  • chills

  • fatigue

  • swollen joints or lymph nodes

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/