As temperatures are starting to turn warmer and individuals will be spending more time outdoors, exposure of ticks increases, which can lead to Lyme Disease if not discovered in time says Warren County Health Department Administrator Jenna Link:
“With Lyme Disease, if you catch it early and so if you are out and about in the timber, tall grass, watch your pets coming in and out because they can bring them in; if you find a tick the sooner you get it off of you, the better. Really within that first week watch for a rash or just not feeling well. If that happens, seek medical attention. They can prescribe antibiotics, fight the infection off pretty quickly and typically symptoms resolve and you are good.”
Administrator Link adds that if the tick is not discovered or untreated, the long-term impacts can be severe; attack the nervous system, cause joint pain, and other health issues.
**Written by WMOI/WRAM Director of Communications Kelsey Crain**