Lyme’s disease signs aren’t always easy to detect and not everyone gets the characteristic round rash. This makes it harder to know for sure if the symptoms you have are due to lyme’s disease or something else. Flu symptoms and headaches are another possible sign but these can also occur for many other reasons. Taking antibiotics won’t always knock out the tick infection right away despite the security we often have once we begin takin an antibiotic.

Removing the tick as early as possible is important as there is usually a 24 hour to 48 hour window before infection begins. This needs to be done properly. Also don’t just assume ticks will be in the woods. They can be found in other city areas and of course your dog may bring one around from romping outside as well.

Complications from undiagnosed lyme’s disease can include stiffness in the neck memory lapses, tiredness that is similar to chronic fatigue and arthritis. These symptoms may not appear initially. A blood test is helpful to diagnose but if your symptoms persist return again to your doctor because lyme’s disease may be present despite a negative reading. Also if people tell you that you’d have the bull’s eye rash for sure, this isn’t true for everyone. Due to the swine flu fear, this also complicates things. Lyme disease signs may be subtle and don’t just have security if the red circular rash mark is absent.

The lyme’s vaccine can be helpful for your dogs but it isn’t one hundred percent protection. Lyme’s disease is most common in late spring time and the months of summer. This doesn’t mean you should avoid the outdoors, but do a thorough checking of your body and teach your children to do the same. In 2007 there were over 3000 cases reported of lyme in Massachusetts. Be vigilent if you are going to the Cape, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard areas for vacations, but of course enjoy yourself. These areas are beautiful and I did a bicycle trip in college there.

Remember to inspect your arm pit areas, groin and below the knee parts of your body very carefully as you do a whole body check. A deer tick can be quite tiny, the size of a seed when it’s small. This isn’t always easy to see. In Minnesota, the May 2008 statistics are saying about 1/3 of the deer ticks (blacklegged ticks) carry disease organisms. May is lyme disease awareness month so exercise caution but enjoy the beautiful weather and your time outdoors.