 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Timberghozt
Board Founder
| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Plaza De Los Armas, Mexico |
| Posts: | 5339 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 12:52 AM |
|
Doc,Mountaineer..Is this disease just in northern cold weather states or does it happen here in the deep south and hot weather climates too?
I have never met anybody that got sick from it.And are ticks the only carriers of this disease..
____________________
"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
|
Force_Recon_Marine
Administrator
| Joined: | 7 November 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 1439 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:04 AM |
|
| I am no expert on this, but a local cheif of police has lyme disease. I cant swear to it, but I think he got it from a tick.
____________________
Swift Silent Deadly
|
Texasdoc
Banned
| Joined: | 5 April 2005 |
| Location: | LaGrange, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1417 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I shoot factory ammo |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:11 AM |
|
Nope gene Lyme is a everywhere one, when i get a bit more time I will say more
Doc
|
Rockydog
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 26 July 2005 |
| Location: | Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 440 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:40 AM |
|
| Timber, Lyme disease, been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Had one of those little tiny deer ticks attach himself to, of all places, the bottom of my navel on a spring turkey hunt. Ended up with a red ring on my belly, fever, etc. A few days on antibiotics and I was good to go but not a pleasant experience. RD
____________________
"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~
|
The_Mountaineer
Administrator
| Joined: | 4 February 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 715 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:50 PM |
|
Doc's got more on this than I do I bet but I'll throw a few things out.
As far as I know, the primary carrier of lyme disease has always been the deer tick. Inside the tick are little microbes known as spirochetes that are essentially injected/vomited into the host especially if pinched or squeezed when trying to remove the tick. The disease runs everywhere as far as I know. Deer ticks are smaller than the common dog tick and often are unnoticed until firmly attached. Thus, it is very important to remove the tick properly. I'm no medic but so long as the tick backs out of the host intact, there's less chance of getting lyme disease. When I was with uncle sam, the medics were adament about removing the ticks themselves as a little trained extraction of a tick was a hell of a lot better than getting the disease. They used special forceps to extract the tick intact. Check with your local county health department for specific recomendations on how to remove ticks. By being cautious with all ticks, even if they aren't the lyme disease carrying deer tick, you'll be that much more assured of not getting the disease. Seems silly but spotted fever and lyme disease aren't fun so I'd rather be safe than sorry even if I do appear cautious over a itty bitty tick.
____________________
Montani Semper Liber - Mountaineers are always free
|
Texasdoc
Banned
| Joined: | 5 April 2005 |
| Location: | LaGrange, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1417 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I shoot factory ammo |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:58 PM |
|
The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, normally lives in mice, squirrels and other small animals. It is transmitted among these animals – and to humans -- through the bites of certain species of ticks.
In the northeastern and north-central United States, the blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) transmits Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal United States, the disease is spread by the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Other tick species found in the United States have not been shown to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi. Blacklegged ticks live for two years and have three feeding stages: larvae, nymph, and adult. When a young tick feeds on an infected animal, the tick takes the bacterium into its body along with the blood meal.
The bacterium then lives in the gut of the tick. If the tick feeds again, it can transmit the bacterium to its new host. Usually the new host is another small rodent, but sometimes the new host is a human.
Most cases of human illness occur in the late spring and summer when the tiny nymphs are most active and human outdoor activity is greatest.
Although adult ticks often feed on deer, these animals do not become infected. Deer are nevertheless important in transporting ticks and maintaining tick populations.
Image showing appearance and relative sizes of adult male and female, nymph and larval ticks including deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), and dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis). Of those pictured, only the Ixodes scapularis ticks are known to transmit Lyme disease.
Other Modes of Transmission
Person-to-Person
There is no evidence that Lyme disease is transmitted from person-to-person. For example, a person cannot get infected from touching, kissing or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease.
During Pregnancy & While Breastfeeding
Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the placenta and possible stillbirth, however, no negative effects on the fetus have been found when the mother receives appropriate antibiotic treatment. There are no reports of Lyme disease transmission from breast milk.
From Blood
Although no cases of Lyme disease have been linked to blood transfusion, scientists have found that the Lyme disease bacteria can live in blood that is stored for donation. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors. Information on the current criteria for blood donation is available on the Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/.
From Pets
Although dogs and cats can get Lyme disease, there is no evidence that they spread the disease directly to their owners. However, pets can bring infected ticks into your home or yard. Consider protecting your pet, and possibly yourself, through the use of tick control products for animals.
Other Transmission
You will not get Lyme disease from eating venison or squirrel meat, but in keeping with general food safety principles meat should always be cooked thoroughly. Note that hunting and dressing deer or squirrels may bring you into close contact with infected ticks.
There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, or lice.
|
Texasdoc
Banned
| Joined: | 5 April 2005 |
| Location: | LaGrange, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1417 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I shoot factory ammo |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 02:59 PM |
|
Lyme Disease Symptoms
The Lyme disease bacterium can infect several parts of the body, producing different symptoms at different times. Not all patients with Lyme disease will have all symptoms, and many of the symptoms can occur with other diseases as well. If you believe you may have Lyme disease, it is important that you consult your health care provider for proper diagnosis.
The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash called erythema migrans or EM. This rash occurs in approximately 70-80% of infected persons and begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3-30 days. A distinctive feature of the rash is that it gradually expands over a period of several days, reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm) across. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, resulting in a bull’s-eye appearance. It may be warm but is not usually painful. Some patients develop additional EM lesions in other areas of the body after several days. Patients also experience symptoms of fatigue, chills, fever, headache, and muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, these may be the only symptoms of infection.
Untreated, the infection may spread to other parts of the body within a few days to weeks, producing an array of discrete symptoms. These include loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face (called facial or “Bell’s palsy), severe headaches and neck stiffness due to meningitis, shooting pains that may interfere with sleep, heart palpitations and dizziness due to changes in heartbeat, and pain that moves from joint to joint. Many of these symptoms will resolve, even without treatment.
After several months, approximately 60% of patients with untreated infection will begin to have intermittent bouts of arthritis, with severe joint pain and swelling. Large joints are most often effected, particularly the knees. In addition, up to 5% of untreated patients may develop chronic neurological complaints months to years after infection. These include shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, and problems with concentration and short term memory.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of illness. However, a small percentage of patients with Lyme disease have symptoms that last months to years after treatment with antibiotics. These symptoms can include muscle and joint pains, arthritis, cognitive defects, sleep disturbance, or fatigue. The cause of these symptoms is not known. There is some evidence that they result from an autoimmune response, in which a person’s immune system continues to respond even after the infection has been cleared.
|
Texasdoc
Banned
| Joined: | 5 April 2005 |
| Location: | LaGrange, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1417 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I shoot factory ammo |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 03:03 PM |
|
Lyme Disease Diagnosis
Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, objective physical findings (such as erythema migrans, facial palsy, or arthritis), and a history of possible exposure to infected ticks. Validated laboratory tests can be very helpful but are not generally recommended when a patient has erythema migrans. For detailed recommendations on serologic testing, click here.
When making a diagnosis of Lyme disease, health care providers should consider other diseases that may cause similar illness. Not all patients with Lyme disease will develop the characteristic bulls-eye rash, and many may not recall a tick bite. Laboratory testing is not recommended for persons who do not have symptoms of Lyme disease.
Laboratory Testing
Several forms of laboratory testing for Lyme disease are available, some of which have not been adequately validated. Most recommended tests are blood tests that measure antibodies made in response to the infection. These tests may be falsely negative in patients with early disease, but they are quite reliable for diagnosing later stages of disease.
CDC recommends a two-step process when testing blood for evidence of Lyme disease. Both steps can be done using the same blood sample.
1) The first step uses an ELISA or IFA test. These tests are designed to be very “sensitive,” meaning that almost everyone with Lyme disease, and some people who don’t have Lyme disease, will test positive. If the ELISA or IFA is negative, it is highly unlikely that the person has Lyme disease, and no further testing is recommended. If the ELISA or IFA is positive or indeterminate (sometimes called "equivocal"), a second step should be performed to confirm the results.
2) The second step uses a Western blot test. Used appropriately, this test is designed to be “specific,” meaning that it will usually be positive only if a person has been truly infected. If the Western blot is negative, it suggests that the first test was a false positive, which can occur for several reasons. Sometimes two types of Western blot are performed, “IgM” and “IgG.” Patients who are positive by IgM but not IgG should have the test repeated a few weeks later if they remain ill. If they are still positive only by IgM and have been ill longer than one month, this is likely a false positive.
CDC does not recommend testing blood by Western blot without first testing it by ELISA or IFA. Doing so increases the potential for false positive results. Such results may lead to patients being treated for Lyme disease when they don’t have it and not getting appropriate treatment for the true cause of their illness. For detailed recommendations for test performance and interpretation of serologic tests for Lyme disease, click here.
Other Types of Laboratory Testing
Some laboratories offer Lyme disease testing using assays whose accuracy and clinical usefulness have not been adequately established. These tests include urine antigen tests, immunofluorescent staining for cell wall-deficient forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, and lymphocyte transformation tests. In general, CDC does not recommend these tests. Click here for more information. Patients are encouraged to ask their physicians whether their testing for Lyme disease was performed using validated methods and whether results were interpreted using appropriate guidelines.
Testing Ticks
Patients who have removed a tick often wonder if they should have it tested. In general, the identification and testing of individual ticks is not useful for deciding if a person should get antibiotics following a tick bite. Nevertheless, some state or local health departments offer tick identification and testing as a community service or for research purposes. Check with your health department; the phone number is usually found in the government pages of the telephone book.
|
Charley
Administrator
| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2225 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 04:35 PM |
|
I'm no medic but so long as the tick backs out of the host intact, there's less chance of getting lyme disease. When I was with uncle sam, the medics were adament about removing the ticks themselves as a little trained extraction of a tick was a hell of a lot better than getting the disease. They used special forceps to extract the tick intact. Check with your local county health department for specific recomendations on how to remove ticks. By being cautious with all ticks, even if they aren't the lyme disease carrying deer tick, you'll be that much more assured of not getting the disease. Seems silly but spotted fever and lyme disease aren't fun so I'd rather be safe than sorry even if I do appear cautious over a itty bitty tick.
Proper tick removal prevents all sorts of nasty pathogens from being injected into you. Folks commonly grab and yank, with the following results:
1, you end up squeezing the tick's body fluids thru his mouthparts, into your tissue. If the tick is carrying any of the agents causing Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spooted fever, or one of the various relapsing fevers, you just innoculated yourself with it.
2, If the tick isn't carrying a disease agent, you will likely leave his mouthparts and part of the head in your skin. This often sets the stage for some occasionally nasty secondary infections.
Don't try to pull them off. A drop of oil on the tick's body, which will clog the spiricles will usually cause the tick to back out on his own in a few minutes.
____________________
"You all can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas" David Crockett (and probably George Bush)
|
Force_Recon_Marine
Administrator
| Joined: | 7 November 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 1439 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 2 January 2007 08:56 PM |
|
I now feel thoroughly educated on Lyme disease. Thanks for the info Doc.
____________________
Swift Silent Deadly
|
Timberghozt
Board Founder
| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Plaza De Los Armas, Mexico |
| Posts: | 5339 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 3 January 2007 01:18 AM |
|
Yeah,that is pretty nasty..I figured as much time in the woods as some of us spend it was something needing discussed.I know I have found ticks on me over the years.I hate the nasty things...
Doc,great info and write bro..
Gene
____________________
"He who fights with monsters might take care, lest he thereby become a monster; For if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - F.Nietzche
|
Poacher
Administrator
| Joined: | 14 August 2005 |
| Location: | Kansas USA |
| Posts: | 825 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 5 January 2007 10:29 AM |
|
There is also a special form of tweezers for tick removal they look like normal tweezers but have a cupped end that allows you to get the tick out without squeezing it's body.
Rocky Mtn Fever is a very serious and nasty thing. My neighbors father got it and due to his age (71) it took hold and he almost didn't make it. He pulled thru after 3 weeks in the hospital but it left it's mark. He doesn't remember the three days prior to going to the hospital and doesn't remember ever being in the hospital till the last couple of days before his release.
Most doctors and medical personel don't think of tick fever or Lyme disease right off the bat because alot of them don't spend time out where alot of us do. If somthing happens to you make sure that your spouse demands they look or run tests for these. It took my neighbor having to argue with the doctors before they ran the tests.
Take care Be safe Poacher.
____________________
I carry my gun because that's the safest place for it.
|
Walking Horse Texas
Administrator
| Joined: | 10 August 2006 |
| Location: | Texas Hill Country, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 104 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: 17 January 2007 07:13 AM |
|
| Doc - we can get the vaccination fairly easy right?
|
Current time is 01:26 PM | |
|
|
|
|
