May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

5/16/11 - By Mary Beth Lawlor

It's Spring and along with the flowers and new leaves on the trees ticks are lurking in the woods and tall grasses. There's plenty a parent can do to protect their children from this disease. Lyme disease was first discovered in Lyme, CT in the 70's.  It's preventable if recommendations are followed and can also be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. However, if  left untreated serious illness can occur. Most cases of Lyme disease develop during the spring or summer months, when people are more likely to be outside walking in the woods or in tall grass.

To prevent ticks from attaching to you or your kids:

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  • Wear light-colored clothing.
  • Tuck your pants into your socks.
  • Tuck your shirt into your pants.
  • Wear a hat.
  • Spray your shoes, socks, belt-line, collar and hat with a permethrin-containing tick repellent.
  • Do a tick check after walking in high-risk areas.
  • Put any clothes that might have live ticks on them into a hot dryer for ten minutes to kill all insects.

On lawns, the majority of deer ticks are recovered within 9 feet of the lawn edge, especially areas adjacent to woods, stonewalls, or ornamental plantings. Fewer ticks are found in the sunny, manicured areas of the lawn. Ticks may also be found in ground covers such as Pachysandra and in leaf litter. If you are noticing an abnormal amount of ticks on your property this season there are natural and pesticide options for treatment through numerous lawn services.

There are tons of great sites with more information about Lyme's Disease but we especially like  Turn the Corner and the American Lyme Disease Foundation.

Many organizations offer tick removal kits. The Lyme Disease Foundation offers a tick removal kit as does the Brookfield Rotary Club which includes pointed tweezers with an attached 3X magnifying glass.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Keep your family safe and do tick checks each night after bathing. If you suspect your child may have been bitten head to your pediatrician for a Lyme disease test. Early detection is key. Get out there and have fun this Spring while protecting yourself and your family.