Warm Summer Weather Brings Tick Concerns SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) – It’s starting to warm up and there are plenty of outdoor activities in the area to enjoy in the sunshine. Hiking and outdoor trails are some of the most popular attractions. “In the Northeast, especially in New England, the tick we need to worry about the most is the Ixodes Tick, also known as the Deer Tick,” said Dr. Daniel Skies, Chief of Infectious Disease at Baystate Medical Center. This big isn’t even half an inch long but can cause some big problems. Dr. Skies said many are aware that ticks carry Lyme Disease, they aren’t aware of the other diseases. “Other infections, one of them is called Babesia. It can affect red blood cells and cause anemia and fever,” said Dr. Skies. “The other thing we’re seeing quite a bit of this year and other years and transmitted by the same ticks is called Anaplasma…[which] can cause fever, achy, low white count and platelet count.” All of these symptoms are similar to Lyme Disease, the most common form of tick transmitted illnesses. And while some cases of Lyme Disease can be treated with antibiotics for a few weeks, patients like Traci Dagastino said the disease is still affecting her years later. “It’s been two years. I’ve been on a course of antibiotics for a course of those two years and did two months of intravenous antibiotics as well,” she said. After being mis-diagnosed with the flu, Dagastino said she was glad to just hear an answer. Her advice to anyone who isn’t sure is to never ignore the symptoms. “Anybody that’s outside can be affected by deer tickets. In my opinion and endemic in this area, if you think you’ve had any exposure at all, get tested and within a month or two if you see any symptons our of the ordinary, press it and get further testing,” said Dr. Skies. Doctors suggest tucking your pants into your socks while hiking and covering all exposed skin so ticks have no access.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 23:55:54 +0000
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