Imagine
your 4-year-old pulling a tick off herself. Very scary, right? Many of have
been there, and this happened to me, too. For some reason, my youngest daughter
is a tick magnet! It happens so much, she pulls them off without flinching.
However,
she has never developed the classic bull’s eye rash. She never got a fever. She
never complained of joint pain, headaches or any of the other common symptoms
associated with Lyme disease. So we thought we were in the clear. That year at
her annual exam, I asked my pediatrician to add the tick borne illnesses to the
standard blood test that they give. Guess what? Her labs lit up like a
Christmas tree! Yup. She had Lyme! And not one symptom!
Lyme disease
and the other tick borne diseases — Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis (sometimes mistakenly
identified as Ehrlichiosis) — are very prevalent here in the Hudson Valley. They
all usually surface with similar symptoms: a bull’s eye rash, fever, chills,
fatigue, and muscle pain or soreness. However, as in my daughter’s case, there
were absolutely no symptoms. So do not assume that no symptoms = no disease.
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Dr. Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at
the Cary Institute in Millbrook, has been studying the black-legged tick here in
the Hudson Valley for years.
Ostfeld’s
research has shown that climate change over the past 20 years in the Hudson
Valley has resulted in ticks peaking earlier than we previously thought.
“The
black-legged tick used to peak early-mid June,” he says. “Now it is peaking
mid-late May and we project that in 20 years or so they will peak in early May.”
READ MORE: Natural tick repellents for your pets
Babesia
and Lyme are the most common pair found in ticks in the Hudson Valley,
according to Ostfeld, not Ehrlichiosis. He adds that it is possible for a tick
to be infected with more than one disease and to transmit more than one
disease.
Ostfeld
suggests that health practitioners and families be aware of this and should be
testing for more than just Lyme, since they each have specific treatments.
Somer DelSignore, BC-PNP- NY/NYC Pediatric Lyme, PANS and Autoimmune Expert at Leda Medical NYC, specializes in infectious diseases. She estimates she is seeing
up to 12 cases of Lyme disease per day.
“What’s
shocking is that these kids are presenting with symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and
Autism, not the typical symptoms of joint pain and fevers,” she says.
READ MORE: The correct way to remove a tick
DelSignore
says new research is showing that mothers who are infected can pass the disease
on to their babies in utero. She suggests that if you have a child with some of
these difficulties, testing for tick borne illnesses should be a part of the
diagnostic process.
What to do if you suspect your
child has a tick borne illness
If you
suspect your child has been bitten by a tick, or you find a tick on them, time
is of the essence. Remove the tick and follow up with your pediatrician. If
symptoms arise or you suspect your child may have contacted a tick borne
illness, have him or her tested six to eight weeks following the incident.
Get
tested for all three types of common tick borne illness in the Hudson Valley:
Babesia, Anaplasma and Lyme. The Centers for Disease Control does not recommend
testing the actual tick, because even if the tick is infected, it does not mean
it passed the infection on to you. However, you can call the Dutchess County or
Ulster County Health Departments to find out more information on getting the
tick tested.
READ MORE: Tips to minimize the risk of Lyme Disease
My child tested positive, or
didn’t but has symptoms! Now what?
When our
daughter tested positive, I was scared and upset. I knew that she was bitten
months ago and was afraid of what that meant. Our pediatrician put her on amoxicillin
for three weeks. We tested her after the antibiotic treatment and it was
successful in getting rid of her Lyme. However the test is only about 60
percent effective. DelSignore says that when she is treating Lyme disease, “the
treatment is based on symptoms instead of test results.”
If you or
your child tests positive, there are several different treatment options
available. Traditional medicine usually prescribes antibiotics. These can be
very effective in eradicating some of the diseases, but not Babesia.
“Babesia
is a parasite and does not respond to antibiotics,” says Ostfeld. In that case,
an entirely different treatment would be necessary.
Something
else to consider is that there are many side effects that can go along with
these medications. Some of those side effects can include fever, headache, diarrhea,
hives, itching, swelling, and more. There are also allergies to take into
consideration. Many people are allergic to antibiotics and other medications.
DelSignore
uses a variety of approaches that include antibiotics, decreasing inflammation and
boosting the immune system.
“We rely
heavily on homeopathics to help the immune system take over and fight the
disease,” she says.
How to protect your family
Prevention
is the best way to protect your family from tick borne illness. Wearing long
pants tucked into your socks, long sleeves, and a hat when outdoors is
important — especially if you are headed into the woods or high grassy areas. Wear
light colored clothing so ticks are easily seen.
Tick-proofing
your yard is another great method. Always do a tick check on yourself and your
pets, especially after being outside.
READ MORE: Tips for effectively checking for ticks
Insect
repellants are another way to prevent tick bites. DelSignore suggests using
repellants that are made from natural ingredients like dandelion and citrus,
rather than DEET.
If you
find a tick, remove it as fast as possible.
Even
though Lyme and other tick borne illnesses are prevalent here in the Hudson
Valley, we can still go outside and enjoy all that this area has to offer. By educating
ourselves, taking some simple precautions, and being aware, we can keep our families
safe while still having fun outdoors.
Kelly Auriemmo is a mom, blogger,
and special education teacher who lives in Poughkeepsie.