Beautiful Weather Enjoyed
By People And Ticks
By Leslie Campbell
Student Intern, Husson University
Cary Medical Center Community Relations
During the summer months, Aroostook County is graced
with beautiful weather, farmers busily planting crops, and
multitudes of annual events such as the Maine Potato Blossom
Festival, Thursdays on Sweden Street in Caribou, and much
more. However, with the warmer temperatures comes the
increased growth of the forested and fielded areas which
ultimately results in the increase of tick populations.
In recent years, the number of ticks (more specifically deer
ticks), has rapidly grown due to the issue of climate change.
Because of this, tick feeding habits are affected by how much
they consume from the larger wildlife such as moose, deer,
raccoons, etc. The most prominent disease they become
infected with is Lyme disease, which for the most part, has
been widely heard of.
According to the CDC, early onset symptoms are headaches,
fevers, joint and muscle pain, as well as fatigue. Combined,
these symptoms are often times looked at as a simple case of the
flu or a common cold which makes diagnosing Lyme disease
even more difficult. If left untreated, the long term effects have
the ability to become life threatening. Meningitis, arthritis in
one or more joints (commonly the knees), or various types of
neurological palsies can arise.
Thankfully doctors have utilized antibiotics (both oral and
intravenous) as the standard treatment for Lyme disease,
especially since there is currently still no vaccination to fight
against it. Additionally, there are several ways for people to
prevent this crippling disease. If a person is prone to work
or spend time in the woods, fields with tall grass or even
their family’s summer camp, the CDC suggests wearing light
According to the Maine Center for Disease Control, Lyme colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks in closed
disease is caused by the bacteria, “borrelia burgdorferi” and toed shoes. This decreases access for ticks compared to that of
has the capability to cause severe cranial nerve damage if left a person wearing shorts, sandals and/or tank tops. Use an EPA
untreated. The naming and discovery of Lyme disease dates back approved repellent (such as DEET) on your skin, and apply
a mere 42 years ago in the small town of Lyme, Connecticut. permethrin to your clothes. Another easy preventative measure
Th e CDC explains how a citizen of the town brought to the is to keep lawns mowed regularly. Doing so ensures that ticks
attention of Yale researchers that there were more than 51 cases won’t have opportunities to inhabit areas so close to home.
of pediatric arthritis (arthritis caused by unknown sources). Check your clothing and skin carefully after being outdoors
Moving forward to 1982, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer was able to and remove ticks immediately.
pinpoint the actual source of the disease, which we know today
as the common deer tick.
Finally, if a tick is found on the skin, CDC protocol to remove
it safely is by pinching the tick around its mouth and head,
Although the researchers and Dr. Burgdorfer were successful in gently pulling upward. This approach prevents crushing the
identifying the cause of Lyme disease, hospitals and physicians body of the tick and causing it to release its stomach contents
to this day are still learning and have had to adapt treatment which is how Lyme disease is transmitted. If bitten by a tick,
options to the strain’s ongoing changes. Lyme disease wash the area of the bite thoroughly with soap and water and
symptoms can begin to occur shortly after exposure, but some apply an antiseptic. Taking note of the date the bite occurred,
people remain symptom free for longer time spans making it as well as saving the tick to provide to your doctor for testing
difficult to connect them to an earlier tick exposure. Typically are also good habits as you watch carefully for early onset signs
within three to thirty days after a person is bitten by an infected of Lyme disease.
deer tick, an “expanding” rash, or “ring” begins to form around
the bite area. However, according to Dr. Carl Flynn, a primary For more information on Lyme Disease, visit the Division
care provider with Pines Health Services, because there are of Infectious Diseases page on the Maine Center for Disease
multiple possible symptoms, and patients that don’t get the Control and Prevention website at www.maine.gov/idepi.
classic rash, don’t always think of Lyme disease as an option.
SUMMER 2017
35