This illness is actually nothing to laugh about. While it is not fatal, if left untreated, Lyme Disease can cause severe, debilitating health problems, including meningitis, facial nerve palsy, and heart problems.
Lyme Disease is spread by the bite of infected deer ticks. Most, but not all, victims will develop a “bulls-eye” rash. Other signs and symptoms may be non-specific and similar to flu symptoms such as fever, headaches, lymph node swelling, neck stiffness, generalized fatigue, migrating joint aches, or muscle aches.
You are at increased risk for Lyme Disease if your work outdoors involves construction, landscaping, forestry, brush clearing, land surveying, farming, railroads, oil fields, utility lines, or park and wildlife management. Therefore, BBB & IWIF offers the following precautions to help protect yourself:
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Wear light-colored clothes to see ticks more easily.
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Wear long sleeves; tuck pant legs into socks or boots.
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Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover your feet completely.
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Wear a hat.
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Use tick repellants, but not on your face.
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Shower after work. Wash and dry your work clothes at high temperature.
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Examine your body for ticks after work. Remove any attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers. Do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match, or nail polish to remove the tick.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture provides a free tick identification service. Also, the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene has published Fact Sheets on many topics affecting Maryland residents. Visit their site and check out "Lyme Disease."
