Don’t forget your body scan!

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information on ticks from Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Lisa McNiven will be presented in two parts.

The carriers of Lyme disease could be in your backyard! What you are about to read is very important as this disease may be masked by other conditions and symptoms. You play a crucial role in discerning whether or not Lyme may be a factor in you or your children’s health and your pets. Awareness and practising these safety measures lies in your hands. If you see sudden changes or “peculiar” rashes, please refer your loved one to your medical doctor.

Go to the websites at the end of this article (some will appear in Monday’s edition) and question what is going on. Learn about signs and symptoms of Lyme.

Let’s first begin understanding what Lyme is and some of the other co-infections. I will try to explain it as simple as I can. It’s best to keep it simple.

Lyme has been around for a long time and it is in our community. You don’t have to live near the woods to become infected as the carriers for this disease are close by.

Lyme disease means that you were infected with a bacteria (spirochete) known as Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) from a bite by a carrier such as a tick. Other carriers may include infected insects such as spider bites. The Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases (2007:45) states that this bacterium is the most complex bacterium known to science.

Be sure to look up what a tick looks like as even the smallestsize tick can be as small as a poppy seed. These little critters are hanging out along edges of woods, tall grass areas, rural areas, backyards and on your pets! Don’t forget to check your pets!

Now, the bad news doesn’t stop there! These black legged ticks (aka deer ticks) harbour other bacteria which can cause bacterial co-infections such as Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia (and others). There are more significant signs and symptoms for each one. Go to the website www.lymeactionnetwork.org so you will be aware of the differences and you know what to look for.

The first symptoms of Lyme include flu-like generalized body aches, fever, sensitive to touch, sore throat, fatigue, travelling joint pain and sometimes a rash. The co-infections have other specific signs and symptoms. The tick could carry all these in its saliva!

You do not have to see a rash (bull’s-eye) to confirm a tick bite! It doesn’t have to be a bull’s-eye rash, it can take on different appearances! Darkskinned people reveal a bruiselike area. The rash may appear months or days later so questioning a change in someone’s health is very important.

Next: A run through a hypothetical encounter with a tick bite.

“You do not have to see a rash (bull’s-eye) to confirm a tick bite! It doesn’t have to be a bull’s-eye rash, it can take on different appearances! Dark-skinned people reveal a bruise-like area. The rash may appear months or days later so questioning a change in someone’s health is very important.”

Dr. Lisa McNiven, BSc., RN, ND is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at Naturopathic Services, 277A Foord St., Stellarton www.drlisa.ca