As summertime gets underway and people flock to the outdoors after months of quarantine, health officials are urging them to remain vigilant against not only COVID-19, but other seasonal illnesses such as Lyme disease.
According to Dr. Ronald Goren, an infectious disease specialist at St. Mary Medical Center and Nazareth Hospital, although Lyme is far from a global pandemic, it’s a prevalent problem in the area. In 2018, Pennsylvania saw 8,000 cases, with Bucks County reporting 400.
“And usually, if you report 400, you’ve got a lot more out there that don’t get reported or people don’t even realize they have it until later,” he said.
Goren explained that COVID-19 and Lyme disease have some overlapping symptoms, including headaches, muscle aches and pains, tiredness and joint pain. But for the most part, he said the two are relatively easy to distinguish.
For starters, COVID-19 is a virus that attacks respiratory cells in the nose and lungs. Its average incubation period is five days.
“The coronavirus does have some breathing and respiratory symptoms – a sore throat, trouble tasting or smelling, a cough. That’s very uncommon in Lyme disease,” Goren said, adding that a high fever is another tell-tale symptom. “When you talk and breathe and laugh and sing, you can expel infected droplets. Somebody who is near you can inhale that. That’s why the virus spreads so much. It’s extremely contagious from person to person.”
On the other hand, Lyme disease is a bacteria that’s caused by a tick bite and is not contagious.
“You get Lyme disease by being in a wooded area or a park or some non-cultivated area,” Goren said. “They [ticks] sense your Co2 and then they land on you or your clothes.”
Ticks are typically attracted to dark areas on the body, such as the hairline, beltline, behind the knees or under the arms. After they bite and get their blood meal, which takes 24 to 48 hours, they inject the bacteria that causes the disease.
A common symptom exclusive to Lyme disease is the “bullseye” rash – a painless, expanding ring either at the site of the bite or elsewhere on the body. It can take anywhere from two to 21 days for the rash to appear.
“Usually, it’s well over two inches and expanding. So, if you see a little red spot and you give it 24 hours and it goes away, then it’s just an insect bite. It’s nothing serious,” Goren said.
While finding a cure for COVID-19 is still in the experimental stages, Lyme disease can be easily treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. Goren explained that bacterial illnesses are easier to cure than viruses.
Mask-wearing, sanitizing and social distancing have proved to be effective methods for reducing the spread of COVID-19. So, how does one protect themselves against Lyme?
“These ticks tend to live in wild areas, so if you’re going to a park or a trail, or you’re cleaning out brush, that’s where you’re going to get bit by a Lyme disease tick,” Goren said.
After a person has been in this type of environment, they should inspect themselves and their family members for ticks, which Goren described as small but viewable.
“If you see a tick, if you pull it out that same day, the risk of Lyme disease is zero,” he said, adding that tweezers can be used. “If you leave a little piece of the tick in there, your body will kick it out. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Residents can also spray themselves with Deet (there’s a special kid-friendly option) and their clothes with Permethrin.
If someone doesn’t recognize Lyme symptoms right away, Goren said long-term effects in rare, severe cases can include cardiac issues, inflammation of the lining of the brain, bell’s palsy, or severe arthritis that may begin up to a year after the bite.
“In the middle of winter, the sudden swelling of a joint could be Lyme disease, so that’s something that has to be considered,” he said. “It generally doesn’t kill, but it can make you feel very ill for a while. But in general, if you catch Lyme disease early, you will get better. Some people have a little fatigue and tiredness for a while, but you will get better regardless of what you see on the web or what your cousin told you.”
Throughout the remainder of the summer, Goren is encouraging people to have fun, but in a safe manner.
“The coronavirus in Bucks County has gone down dramatically. The people we’re testing now at St. Mary Medical Center are running a 2 percent positive. It’s a very low number, but it is still out there,” he said. “Just be careful around people, wear your mask. And when you’re out in public and doing things, wash your hands and use hand gel. And with Lyme, it’s just a matter of making sure you don’t get bit by a tick.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
