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LYME DISEASE PREVENTION |
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An approved vaccine may be available
quite soon. Two vaccines are being tested and are similar in that
they both require three injections, the first two given a month
apart; a third injection given a year later. In 1997, the early
results from a very large study of 10,000 adults in many locations
showed strong promise of a safe, effective vaccine. Until then, the
best prevention strategy is through minimizing risk of exposure to
ticks and using personal protection precautions. There is also
research into vaccination against the tick vector to prevent the
tick from feeding long enough to transmit the infection. Minimize risk of exposure Precautions to avoid contact with ticks include moving leaves and brush away from living quarters. Most important are personal protection techniques when outdoors, such as: Using repellents containing DEET Wearing light-colored clothing to maximize ability to see ticks Tucking pant legs into socks or boot top Checking children frequently for ticks. In highly tick-populated areas, each individual should be inspected at the end of the day to look for ticks. Minimize risk of disease The two most important factors are removing the tick quickly and carefully, and seeking a doctor's evaluation at the first sign of symptoms of Lyme disease. When in an area that may be tick-populated: Check for ticks, particularly in the area of the groin, underarm, behind ears, and on the scalp Stay calm and grasp the tick as near to the skin as possible, using a tweezer To minimize the risk of squeezing more bacteria into the bite, pull straight back steadily and slowly Do not try to make the tick back out by using vaseline, alcohol, or a lit match Place the tick in a closed container (for species identification later, should symptoms develop) or dispose of it by flushing See a physician for any sort of rash or patchy discoloration that appears 3-30 days after a tick bite. Medical studies to date do not support the preventative use of antibiotics after a tick bite, even if the tick has been identified as a deer tick. The risk of Lyme disease after a deer tick exposure appears to be quite low. |
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