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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Summer Health Tips > Taking the Bite Out of Summer
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Consumer Focus: Summer Health Tips
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Image of a man holding mosquito repellant eye-to-eye with a mosquito

Taking the Bite Out of Summer

Are you ready? Warm weather is here, and so are the ticks and mosquitoes. With ticks comes the risk of Lyme disease and with mosquitoes comes the risk of West Nile virus. Reduce your risk with these common sense approaches.

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Image of an evil tick

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infection that is transmitted by a tick bite. It often starts with a large red rash at the site of the bite, followed by flu-like symptoms and fatigue. Not all persons develop the same symptoms. The disease can be difficult to diagnose since its symptoms mimic those of other diseases.

The symptoms of early Lyme disease include:

  • A characteristic skin rash, a circular red patch, which often resembles a “bull's-eye
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Headache
  • Chills and fever
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen lymph nodes

The symptoms of late Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months, or even years after a tick bite and include:

  • Arthritis (usually as pain and swelling in large joints, especially the knee)
  • Nervous system abnormalities such as numbness, pain, or facial paralysis
  • Irregularities of the heart rhythm

Nearly all people with Lyme disease can be effectively treated with a course of antibiotic therapy. In general, the sooner such therapy is begun following infection, the quicker and more complete the recovery. There is a vaccine available, "LYMErix", to help prevent Lyme disease. Three doses of the vaccine are given over a period of one year. The vaccine is not available for those under 15 years of age. The vaccine is not 100 percent effective; it is not known how long protection against Lyme disease lasts after the vaccination; and the vaccine should not be considered a substitute for other standard preventive measures against infection.

Preventing Infection

Lyme disease has been reported in nearly all states in this country. Most cases of Lyme disease occur in the spring and summer months when ticks are "feeding" and people generally spend more time outdoors. Campers, hikers, outdoor workers, and gardeners are at the greatest risk of exposure to infected ticks. Here are some tips to minimize the risk of contracting Lyme disease:

  • Avoid areas where deer ticks live, such as wooded, brushy, and nearby shady grasslands, especially from May through August.
  • To minimize exposure to ticks, you should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts that fit tightly at the ankles and wrists, and wear a hat.
  • Tuck pant legs into socks or boots, and wear shoes that leave no part of the feet exposed.
  • Tape the area where pants and socks meet so that ticks cannot crawl underneath.
  • Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily.
  • Shower after all outdoor activities and immediately wash clothing.
  • Check periodically for ticks if you have been in and around brushy areas or working in a garden.
  • Walk in the center of trails to avoid picking up ticks from overhanging grass and brush.
  • Spray your clothing with the insecticide permethrin (found in lawn and garden stores). Insect repellents that contain DEET can also be applied to clothing or directly onto skin.
Caution: Do not overuse these products as high concentrations can cause some serious side effects. Infants and children may be especially at risk for adverse reactions to DEET.

Protecting Your Pet Against Lyme Disease

Household pets can get Lyme disease too. There are currently three vaccines available for dogs but, unfortunately, not for cats. Checking pets for all types of ticks before letting them enter the home reduces the risk of infection for both pet and owner.

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Image of a nurse patching mosquito bites on a boy; there is a mosquite over the boy's shoulder

West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a virus spread by insects, usually mosquitoes. The virus primarily circulates between infected birds and mosquitoes that bite them. Infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus when they bite other animals or people. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, not all mosquitoes become infected with it, and infection does not occur in all individuals exposed to mosquitoes carrying WNV.

People infected with WNV typically develop symptoms within 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Mild symptoms include: flu-like symptoms; fever; headache; body aches; and sometimes a rash, and swollen lymph glands. In a small number of people, life-threatening encephalitis or meningitis could result. The risk of getting the more severe form of WNV is higher for people 50 years of age and older. The FDA believes WNV can be transmitted by both organ transplantation and blood transfusion. Unfortunately, no tests exist yet for large-scale screening of donor blood and there are no approved drugs to treat the virus or vaccines to prevent it.

Protecting Yourself Against WNV

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself, especially if living in an area where West Nile Virus is active:

  • Apply insect repellant containing DEET before going outdoors.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs.
  • If possible, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquito activity is greatest.
  • Keep mosquitoes outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors.
  • Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water. Clean out clogged gutters, drain buckets/pails, and empty and change the water in flower pots and birdbaths.

Note: Ultrasonic devices are not effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Protecting Your Pet Against WNV

WNV can be a threat to some animals as well, especially birds and horses. Like humans, animals are infected with the virus when bitten by an infected mosquito. An equine vaccine is available through licensed veterinarians. Dogs and cats can also be infected with the virus, but it is unlikely that most pet owners would notice any unusual symptoms or behavior in cats or dogs that become infected with WNV. If your pet does show signs of WNV infection (fever, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, spasms, seizures or paralysis), you should contact your veterinarian. There is no specific treatment for WNV infection in dogs or cats, but full recovery from the infection is likely.

Note: Pet owners should not use human repellents that contain DEET on animals. Check with your veterinarian for the appropriate products to protect your pet.

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Other Resources

This is just a brief overview. For more information on summer health tips, check out these resources:

Websites*:

* Names of resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Savvy Consumer Information Center or any Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.

*If you click on these links, you are leaving our website. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. We are not responsible for the content of these websites.

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