Lyme disease is a serious infection that comes from being bitten by an infected blacklegged tick. These infected ticks can be found almost anywhere in Canada. Warmer weather means ticks are out and active. One may be at risk if time is spent in wooded areas with tall grasses and bushes (including gardens and parks). Protection includes: wearing light-coloured long-sleeve shirts, closed-toed shoes, and long pants tucked into the socks; using an insect repellent with 'DEET' in it, which is effective and can be safely applied as directed; and checking yourself and removing ticks promptly.
Ticks are small and hard to see. In finding a tick it must be removed carefully with fine tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, as crushing or damaging the tick could cause Lyme disease bacteria to pass from the tick into the bloodstream. Do not use a lit match or cigarette, nail polish or nail polish remover, petroleum jelly (i.e. Vasoline), liquid soap or kerosene to remove the tick. Pull the tick straight out, gently but firmly. Do not jerk or twist the tweezers while pulling the tick out. Do not squeeze the tick, you might crush it. The area should then be cleaned with soap and water once the tick has been removed. Then disinfect your skin and your hands with rubbing alcohol or an iodine swab.
Early symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and an expanding rash. The rash may be a bull's-eye rash (a red patch on the skin that is usually round or oval and more than 5 cm that spreads outwards and gets bigger) or a bruise-like rash (usually on darker skin tones) or another type of unusual rash. If left untreated Lyme disease can make one tired and weak, and if it worsens, it can harm the heart, nerves, liver and joints, and in very rare cases, cause death. Symptoms from untreated Lyme disease can last years and include recurring arthritis and neurological problems, numbness, and paralysis. Seek medical support from your family doctor or health care provider if symptoms persist. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
While ticks are most active in the spring and summer, they can be found at any time of year when the temperature is above freezing.
One method of killing ticks is to put your clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes before washing them. It is also a good idea to have a shower as soon as you can to wash off any ticks.
Maintaining your property is important in keeping ticks away. Such measures include: keeping grass mowed short; trimming bushes and tree branches to let in sunlight (ticks avoid hot, dry locations); creating a border of gravel or woodchips one meter or wider around your yard if you're next to a wooded area, or an area with tall grasses; removing leaf litter, brush and weeds at the edge of the lawn and from stone walls and wood piles; toys, playground equipment and sandboxes should be placed on a woodchip or mulch foundation.