Is this an especially bad year for deer ticks? Everyone’s saying yes—from the scientists and the physicians to all of us picking ticks off ourselves, our kids, and our dogs. Deer ticks are responsible for spreading Lyme Disease, and when Lyme goes untreated it can cause serious health problems. There’s no magic bullet for Lyme Disease, and Massachusetts is one of the states most heavily affected by it. It’s fair to say, in fact, that every year in Massachusetts is a bad tick year. That said, we can develop simple habits that help keep us safe. In this episode of Physician Focus, our host and experts talk about the best ways to avoid getting bitten by a deer tick, how to reduce your risk if you find a tick attached to you, and what to do if you experience an expanding rash or flu-like symptoms in summer.
Program highlights:
Dr. Catherine Brown, Deputy State Epidemiologist and State Public Health Veterinarian of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, describes simple steps that can reduce our risk of Lyme Disease, including what we can do before we go outdoors and when we come back in.
Dr. Allen Steere, the physician-scientist who discovered Lyme Disease in the 1970s and continues to work with Lyme patients at Massachusetts General Hospital, describes the ways that Lyme Disease can affect our health, and what you need to know if you think you may have been infected by a tick.
