PlacerSustain: Voices of Placer County's Sustainability Community

   Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe. Recently, ticks throughout Placer County have tested positive for Lyme Disease, including at the nature center. Read on to learn about the symptoms of Lyme Disease, ticks and most importantly, how to prevent getting it.

   Lyme disease is a bacterial infection from Borrelia burgdorferi. Transmission is primarily by the black-legged tick. The symptoms of Lyme disease vary. They could include headaches, chills and fever, muscle and joint pains, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Untreated Lyme disease symptoms can worsen weeks, months, or even years after a bite from an infected tick. One example is nervous system abnormalities, such as numbness, pain, partial paralysis of facial muscles, memory loss, and/or mood swings.

   Tick bite reactions are small, less than 1-2” inches in size and red, normal reactions don’t expand when observed over 24-48 hours, and the reaction at site of a tick bite can last days, even weeks. About 80 percent of bites infected with Lyme disease develops a round or oval rash, which sometimes resembles a “bull’s eye.” The rash will enlarge in size over days or weeks, and can get up to 6-8” inches in diameter; they are often confused with spider bites.

   If you are bitten by a tick and develop the rash or symptoms of Lyme disease, contact your doctor immediately. Treatment is most effective if begun early. Remember, that the longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting the disease. You can remove the tick yourself by grasping the tick’s mouthparts against your skin, using pointed tweezers, and pulling steadily until you can ease the tick out of the skin. Always be patient; the long mouthpart is covered with barbs, so removing it can be difficult and time consuming. Do not twist or jerk the tick, or removal by burning or other fluids as this could encourage the tick to release fluids increasing chances of contamination. Apply an antiseptic to the bite and save the ticks body. Be sure to wash your hands and tweezers in soap and water.

   Only 2% of tick bites result in Lyme disease. If you have a tick bite, keep an eye on it. Watch for an expanding red rash at the site of the tick bite or an unexplained feverish, achy, fatiguing illness within 1 to 4 weeks after the tick bite. If this doesn’t happen, you are probably among the 98% of people who don’t develop Lyme disease after a tick bite.  The Lyme Disease Association reported 74 cases of Lyme disease in the state of California in 2008.

   If you live in Placer County, you probably have encountered a tick, little blood-sucking arthropods. Late spring and early summer are the highest risk season for Lyme disease, when the nymphal stage of the ticks emerges. Adult ticks are present year round and can be feeding any time when temperatures exceed 40 degrees.  You're more likely to get Lyme disease if you live or spend time in grassy and heavily wooded areas where ticks carrying the disease thrive.

   The best thing to do is to try to prevent getting tick bites when you are outdoors. Never leave it up to chance.  Prevent it by staying on marked trails, away from tall grasses and un-cleared areas of the forest floor. Use trails that are well maintained that do not have grasses hanging over the trail like those the nature center or at Hidden Valley Falls.

   Talk to your kids. Keep the kids from crawling or rolling in leaves. A daily ritual of examining yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks should be followed. Use doctor-approved insect repellent on clothes, and always try to wear protective clothing, like long sleeves, long pants, and proper shoes. Wearing light-colored socks and pants will help in spotting ticks, and avoid going barefoot or wearing open-toe sandals or shoes.

   Bottom line? Be smart.  Don’t let fear prevent you from hiking and enjoying nature, but do protect yourself and your family by being informed and prepared.  If you are bitten, pay close attention to whatever symptoms you may develop, even if they don't seem related.

   Placer Nature Center will be hosting tick prevention workshops in February and May. The first one will be held February 25th from 11am-12pm at the nature center. CSUS nursing interns will cover tick bite prevention for you and your pets too to keep the family safe while playing outside.  Understanding how to keep pets safe is important as they frequently bring ticks into the home. Placer County Mosquito and Vector control District will also provide free tick kits for all participants.

Placer Nature Center is located at 3700 Christian Valley Road in Auburn. They share the same campus as the California Conservation Corps. There is no charge for attending. Visit www.PlacerNatureCenter.org for more information.