It’s Tick Season: Do You Know the Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Ticks are creepy and crawly, and no one likes them. What makes them worse is that some kinds of ticks carry diseases, like Lyme disease. When Lyme disease isn’t treated, it can lead to serious complications, such as arthritis and even cognitive impairment. If your older family member spends time outdoors, knowing the symptoms of Lyme disease can help them to get the treatment they need before complications arise.
Home Care in Glenolden PA: Tick Season
Causes of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by different kinds of ticks around the world. In the United States, the disease is caused by the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick. These ticks are very small, as tiny as a poppy seed when they are young. Because of their tiny size, they can be hard to see.
To get Lyme disease, an older adult must be bitten by a deer tick that is carrying the disease. Usually, the tick has to be attached to a human for between 36 and 48 hours to transmit the disease. While the tick is attached, bacteria from the bite gets into the senior’s blood stream, causing the disease.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
The most common and telling sign of Lyme disease is a bullseye shaped rash. Initially, there may be a small red bump where the tick was attached. The red area spreads and the center clears after a time, making it look like a target. The rash can appear within 3 days to a month of the bite.
Other symptoms that may occur are:
- Fever
- Chills
- Stiff neck
- Headache
- Body aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
If the disease isn’t detected and treated early, other symptoms may appear over time, such as:
- The rash may spread to other parts of the body.
- Joint pain, especially in the knees.
- Neurological symptoms like Bell’s palsy and numbness or weakness in limbs.
If your older family member is diagnosed with Lyme disease, home care can help them while they recover. A home care provider can remind the senior to take medications for treating the disease.
If the disease went unnoticed for a time and complications have occurred, a home care provider can help to manage the long-term effects. For example, a home care provider can help an older adult with arthritis due to Lyme disease to walk safely without falling due to arthritis pain. Home care providers can also keep a senior with cognitive impairment safe by supervising them when family caregivers cannot be there.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Glenolden, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care.
Call today: (484) 206-4544
Sources
Cdc.gov
Mayoclinic.org
Webmd.com
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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