With the sheer number of cases and epidemic proportion of Lyme Disease in humans in Massachusetts, Mosquito Squad of Boston Metro South wants to ensure you have access to all the information possible regarding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. It is important to note that while Lyme Disease is a real threat to humans and gets all the attention, there are other tick-borne illnesses in our area. By educating yourself on which types of ticks carry the dreaded Lyme Disease and which ticks carry other tick-borne diseases you can further learn how to keep you and your family from getting infected through a tick’s bite.
How Mosquito Squad of Boston Metro South Can Reduce Your Exposure to Ticks
Our traditional barrier treatment can eliminate a significant percentage of ticks within your yard. The barrier treatment will eliminate ticks on contact and will continue to work for up to 21 days with our special microencapsulated timed-release formula. We begin by focusing on your yard’s perimeter and work our way in. All the while we are paying very close attention to potential problem areas that ticks prefer (i.e. shady, cool and damp areas).
What Types of Tick-Borne Diseases are There in Weymouth MA and Surrounding Areas?
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Lyme Disease
- Powassan Disease
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Tularemia
Lyme Disease in Weymouth MA and Surrounding Areas
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the deer tick. Due to the enormous deer population within our state, Lyme Disease has practically become an epidemic. In conjunction with our moist climate and forested areas this makes for an equally large tick population. Hikers and anyone walking through areas which are heavily wooded with tall grass as well are more than likely going to pick up ticks along the way. The difficulty lies within finding them once they are on you. Nymph deer ticks can be as small as a poppy seed!
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Nearly everyone in our area is familiar with the infamous “bullseye rash”. It’s synonymous with Lyme Disease. The truth is that the rash you may experience doesn’t have to appear as a bullseye. It can be a simple red rash and will usually appear between 3 – 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick. The physical symptoms can begin to show in the same amount of time and they include:
- Fever
- Fatigue/Lethargy
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle and Joint Aches
While this may sound unassuming, if left untreated the previously mentioned symptoms pale in comparison for what could come. Patients, if left untreated, may experience Bell’s Palsy, extremely severe headaches, acute meningitis, joint swelling and even heart palpitations.
What’s the Treatment Regimen for Lyme Disease?
If detected early enough, Lyme Disease can be treated with simple oral antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. However, if left untreated for too long, patients may require hospitalization in order to receive intravenous antibiotics should cardiac or neurological symptoms begin to occur.
Lyme Disease is Also a Threat to Your Pets
While many people associate Lyme Disease only with humans, your pets are at risk as well. This holds especially true in dogs where they may show signs of lameness due to joint inflammation. There’s also the potential for lack of appetite and depression and even more severe complications such as kidney damage, and rarely, heart or nervous system disease.
While your pets are at risk, the ticks they may bring into your home present a risk to you and your family as well. For this reason it’s important to check your pets for ticks just as you would check yourself or your family members.
What is Anaplasmosis?
Another tick-borne illness is Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, or simply anaplasmosis. This particular disease has an incubation period of 1 – 2 weeks and is accompanied by pretty serious symptoms. Symptoms of anaplasmosis include:
- Fever, chills
- Severe headache
- Malaise
- Myalgia
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia)
- Cough
- Arthralgia
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
If you notice a tick on you or your family member and begin to exhibit any of these symptoms, consult with your physician immediately.
What is Babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. This disease is most commonly transmitted to humans via the bite of a deer tick. Typically the parasite is spread by the young nymph stage of the tick. Many people won’t recall a tick bite as the nymphs are, again, the size of a poppy seed.
Symptoms of babesiosis are also quite severe. The symptoms include:
- Malaise, fatigue
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting)
- Myalgia
- Arthralgia
- Depression, emotional lability
- Photophobia
- Conjunctival injection
- Dark urine
- Petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, ecchymoses
- Mild splenomegaly and/or hepatomegaly
- Cough
- Sore throat
Babesiosis is becoming increasingly common in the Northeastern United States and especially our area. If you begin to display any of these symptoms, it’s imperative you contact your physician in order to gain access to antibiotics as soon as possible.
What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a tickborne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. It is potentially fatal and is transmitted to humans through the bite of the brown dog tick. The incubation period for RMSF is between 2 – 14 days and its symptoms are nearly unmistakable. The symptoms of RMSFinclude:
- Fever, chills
- Severe headache
- Malaise
- Myalgia
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal tenderness)
- Rash, 2-5 days after fever starts, begins as small, blanching, pink macules on the ankles, wrists, or forearms that evolve to maculopapules. May expand to the entire body including the palms and soles. The classic spotted, or generalized petechial, rash is not usually apparent until the 5th or 6th day of illness
- Cough
- Conjunctival injection, +/- photophobia
- Altered mental status
- Focal neurologic deficits, including cranial or peripheral motor nerve paralysis or sudden transient deafness.
If you exhibit these symptoms after coming into contact with a tick, consult your physician immediately. While RMSF can be fatal, it is also treatable with antibiotics if caught in time.
What is Tularemia?
Tularemia is a highly infectious bacterium that is transmitted through various means, specifically this includes the dog tick, the wood tick and the lone star tick. Illness ranges from mild to life-threatening. All forms are accompanied by fever, which can be as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
The general symptoms of Tularemia include:
- Fever, chills
- Headache
- Malaise, fatigue
- Anorexia
- Myalgia
- Chest discomfort, cough
- Sore throat
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Tularemia can prove to be difficult to diagnose as its symptoms can easily be mistaken for more common illnesses. Because of this, it’s important to share with your physician any likely exposures to tick bites.
For even more information on tick borne illnesses, click HERE.
To find out how to rid your yard of ticks today, call Mosquito Squad of Boston Metro South today at (781) 471-5793, or click the Alert the Squad button at the top right. We look forward to hearing from you soon!