2002 Press Releases

Lyme Disease Prevention Tips From the From the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency ncy Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center

LIVINGSTON, N.J. -- Lyme disease was named in 1977 when arthritis was observed in a cluster of children who lived in and around Lyme, Connecticut. Further investigation revealed that Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected deer tick. Each year more than 16,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the United States.

“Lyme disease is largely concentrated in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut,” says Anthony Minnefor, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “It should be viewed as an issue, especially for those who spend time out of doors in areas that are likely to be infested with ticks, particularly in spring and summer.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients who have been bitten by a tick may experience one or more of the following within days to weeks of the bite: a red, slowly expanding "bull's-eye" rash accompanied by general tiredness, fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle aches, and joint pain. If left untreated, some patients with Lyme disease may develop arthritis, neurological abnormalities, and, more rarely, cardiac problems.

The following tips have been provided by the Pediatric Lyme Disease and Rheumatology Program, part of the Pediatric Specialty Center of the Department of Pediatrics at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, the Saint Barnabas Department of Emergency Medicine and the CDC:

Prevention

• The number of ticks may be reduced by removing leaf litter, brush- and woodpiles around houses and yards. Tick populations can be hindered through the application of pesticides.  

• When outside, wear light colored, long-sleeved clothing so ticks can be seen more easily.

• A tick looks like a mole or a freckle. It digs in and may hide near the navel (belly button), underarms, behind the knee, between the toes and at the nape of the neck. These are a few of the tick’s favorite places to hide. Be sure to check your entire body carefully.

• Pant legs should be tucked into socks. Nylon or other slippery fabrics will make it more difficult for ticks to grab hold of the skin. Boots are helpful for avoiding ticks.

• Consider spraying insect repellent on shoes and socks.

• Avoid walking in tall grasses where ticks are especially prevalent. Stay towards the middle of trails to prevent brushing against tall grasses and low bushes.

• Check your body frequently and carefully for ticks. If you find one, look for others.

• If you find a tick, do not panic. Removing it quickly can help prevent disease transmission. Forget the advice about using a lighted match to force the tick to out or covering it with Vaseline. Most likely you will kill the tick in place. Instead, grasp the tick with tweezers as close to your skin as possible, and pull straight out without squeezing the body any more than necessary. After tick removal, clean the area with a disinfectant.

• If a rash more than an inch wide appears at the site of a bite, it is important to have the area examined by a physician. If you develop flu-like symptoms any time within a month after being bitten, it is also important to see a physician.

To reach the Pediatric Lyme Disease and Rheumatology Program, please call (973) 322-7400. To find a Saint Barnabas Medical Center physician, please call 1-888-SBHCS-DOC.

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