Lyme disease

No one is safe from being bitten by a tick on a beautiful summer day. Here are more details about Lyme disease, given that the blacklegged tick, the one that transmits this illness, is increasingly present in Quebec.

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Ticks

Ticks are showing up more and more in Quebec. Did you know that there are 12 species of ticks in the province? And fortunately, only 1 species can carry Lyme disease. The culprit:  the blacklegged tick, or Ixodes scapularis. It infects humans by transmitting the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent responsible for Lyme disease.

These creatures can live in the city as well as in the country, and are found more in tall grass, dead leaves, wooded areas or the forest, and they can be active at any hour of the day or night. They can bite and infect a person as soon as the temperature reaches 4°C. Ticks are also more present in certain regions of Quebec, such as Estrie, Lanaudière, Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec, Montérégie, Montreal, Outaouais, Laval and the Laurentians.

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The clinical signs of Lyme disease

When it comes to the symptoms used to identify Lyme disease, the most common ones are:

• 60 to 80% of infected people develop a target-shaped red patch at the bite site, which appears between 3 and 30 days after the event. This redness can grow to about 5 cm in diameter
• Fever
• Fatigue and trouble concentrating
• Headaches
• A stiff neck
• Muscle and joint pain

Some of these symptoms can last up to 6 months even when they have been treated quickly (post-Lyme syndrome).

What is unusual about the symptoms of Lyme disease is that other signs can appear several weeks and even several months after the bite, if the infection was not diagnosed and treated quickly.

• Several red patches appearing on the skin, with little or no pain or itching
• Facial paralysis, numbness in a limb, neck pain or severe headaches
• Swelling in the joints
• Chest pain, possible palpitations or dizziness

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How can you prevent bites in children and adults?

Taking the outdoor temperature into account, these measures should be applied between April and November, or at least as soon as the thermometer reaches 4°C.

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• Use a suitable insect repellent
• Wear long clothing that covers the body completely, a hat and closed shoes.
• Remember to tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks.
• Wear light-coloured clothing when you go outdoors; it will be easier to spot ticks if there are any.
• Cover strollers and playpens with mosquito netting when they are outside.
• Stick to walking on clear trails, avoiding brushing against vegetation.
• Use bath time with your baby or child to check that there is no tick on their body.
• Also remember to check the backpacks, clothing and other equipment you used for your outdoor activity before bringing everything into the house. As soon as you get back, you can also wash the clothing you wore in hot water for at least 40 minutes and machine dry it.
• Do not forget to check your pet if it came along on your activity, before it goes into the house.
• If you notice a tick on the skin, remove it as quickly as possible.

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Removing a tick

You can use fine tweezers, such as eyebrow tweezers, or better still, a tick remover. Avoid using your fingernails to remove it as much as possible.

1. Pull the tick gently but firmly and steadily, without twisting or crushing it, so that the whole tick comes out without breaking. If the tick's head stays in the skin, you can then remove it carefully with the tweezers. If you are using a tick remover, follow the manufacturer's instructions. If you cannot get the head out, leave it in place and let the skin heal.
2. Put the tick you removed from the skin in an airtight container, such as an empty pill bottle. Note the part of the body that was bitten and the date the tick was removed, and keep it in the refrigerator. The tick could be useful if you need to see a doctor.
3. After removing the tick, clean your skin with soap and water, and wash your hands well.

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What to do after removing the tick

If you were bitten in Canada or the United States, call 811 (Info-Santé, Quebec's free health information line) to tell the nurse about your situation, and she will refer you to a health professional if needed, based on her assessment. An antibiotic could be prescribed as a preventive measure, and do not forget to bring the tick with you if you have to be seen.

In closing, there is no need to be fearful either, once you know the precautions to take. It becomes clear that they are easy to apply and that you can keep enjoying your outdoor activities without worry!

Here are also two official sources to learn more about the subject:

• To reduce the presence of ticks in your environment, see the Protection and prevention section of the Lyme disease page.
• To learn more about insect repellents: Health Canada

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