Greetings to all the Stem Social community, a pleasure to be here again with all of you socializing information that I consider important and interesting.
Life in society and the domestication of many animals has allowed a great interaction between different animals and humans, starting of course with dogs and cats. But they are not the only ones, we also have some birds that people assume as pets. However, this time I would like to talk about a specific disease that is caused by ticks (something common in many dogs), and that can be transmitted to humans, I am referring to Lyme disease.
Also keep in mind that ticks are found in wooded areas, not necessarily on or in animals, and people walking through a forest could be bitten by an infected tick.
If you have a dog as a pet or if you frequent spaces where there are abundant dogs, I invite you to read this publication, that the information that I am going to share, will surely interest you.
Let's start by defining this disease: Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick.
It is an anthropozoonosis, that is, an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans.
This is a disease that occurs primarily in the northern hemisphere and has been reported in every state in the United States, as well as in many countries in Europe and Asia. Most people who get Lyme disease get it from walking in woods or parks with high humidity and high temperatures, where there are large numbers of ticks.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue and skin rash on the part of the body where the bite occurred. ***If treated early, Lyme disease can usually be successfully cured with antibiotics; however, if left untreated, it can cause serious long-term health problems, including damage to the joints, heart and nervous system.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary widely and can appear anywhere between 3 and 30 days after the bite of an infected tick.
This is a disease that presents with a variety of symptoms, but the most common are described below:** ** Skin rash: A rash on the skin:** A rash on the skin that can appear anywhere from 3 to 30* days after the bite of an infected tick.
Skin rash: A circular or oval rash on the skin, known as erythema migrans, may appear at the site of the tick bite. This rash may be red, pink or purple in color and may grow slowly over the following weeks.
Fever: Fever is a common symptom of Lyme disease and can range from a slight fever to a high fever.
Headache: Headaches are common in people who have Lyme disease.
Fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of Lyme disease and can be severe. People may feel tired and weak for weeks or even months after getting the disease.
Joint pain: Lyme disease can cause pain and swelling in the joints, especially the knees.
It is important to keep in mind that anyone can get Lyme disease if bitten by an infected tick. The disease is most common in people who spend time outdoors, especially in areas where there are high concentrations of ticks, such as forests, parks, and areas with tall weeds (as previously discussed). People who work in the field, hunters, and forestry workers are at increased risk for Lyme disease due to their prolonged exposure to tick areas.
In addition, people who have pets that spend time outdoors are also at increased risk for Lyme disease, as pets can bring ticks into the home.
There is something unique about this infection, it is possible for people who have had Lyme disease and have been successfully treated to develop immunity to the disease, however, this is not always the case and ***some people who have had the disease may get it again.
In addition, there is no vaccine for Lyme disease, so it is important to take steps to prevent tick bites and protect against the disease. This is the most elementary thing, as with any other infectious disease, avoidance..
These measures are basic, I will mention below the most important ones:
Use insect repellents: Applying insect repellents on skin and clothing can help prevent ticks from attaching to the skin.
Check the skin: It is important to check the skin daily to detect and remove any ticks that may be present. This obviously if we are exposed to areas where ticks are abundant.
Wear protective clothing and footwear, such as long pants and long sleeved shirts, can help protect the skin from ticks.
Avoid areas with high tick concentrations: It is important to avoid walking in areas with high tick concentrations, especially in forests and parks with high humidity and high temperatures.
Control living areas: Keeping lawns short and removing weeds and leaf litter can help control areas where ticks may live.
It is important to remember that Lyme disease can be prevented by taking steps to avoid tick bites. But if you suspect you have been bitten by a tick, it is *important to seek immediate medical attention.
In general, it is an infection that if treated at the right time does not imply any complication, but if not treated in time, it can leave temporary sequelae, and this is what must be avoided.
It is also important to consider that there is no guarantee of creating an immunity against the bacteria, so the chances of getting the infection again are always there.
Dogs serve as a reservoir in that they can get ticks, but of course they are not the only animals that can get ticks.
I hope this publication has served as good information for you, if you did not know about this disease, you already know that it exists, and that there are ways to avoid it. If you have anything else to add, you can leave it in the comments and we can all help each other.
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