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(CNN) – Justin Bieber revealed that he was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, an infection caused by bacteria commonly transmitted by ticks.
About 300,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with Lyme disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S (CDC).
Lyme disease, which comes from a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common disease transmitted by ticks in North America, according to Mayo Clinic. Black-legged ticks can spread such bacteria while feeding on the blood of animals and humans.
Most humans are infected by immature ticks called nymphs, according to the CDC, which usually feed during the spring and summer months.
The ticks carrying this disease live in green and very wooded areas.
symptom
Fever, headache, fatigue and a rash called migratory erythema are typical symptoms of Lyme disease.
This rash often resembles a porthole and may appear within a few days of infection. Between 70% and 80% of people with Lyme disease develop this rash, and some patients develop it in more than one place in the body.
If left untreated, Lyme disease infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system, according to the CDC. This can cause pain and swelling in the joints.
After several weeks or months, patients may also experience swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain, temporary paralysis of one side of the face and “brain fog”: forgetfulness or confusion.
READ: Justin Bieber reveals that he is fighting Lyme disease
What to do if you get bitten
Ticks can be small: deer ticks can be as small as the tip of a pin, so look carefully for them.
Removing a tick within 24 hours reduces the risk of developing Lyme disease because the bacteria take time to pass from the tick to the host. The longer the tick is attached to the human body, the greater the likelihood of the person becoming infected. Use tweezers to remove the tick carefully and steadily, grabbing it near the mouth or neck. Then put antiseptic in the infected area.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and begin to experience symptoms. Even if your symptoms disappear, you should still see a doctor.
Treatment
The standard treatment for Lyme disease in the early stages is oral antibiotics. Usually a 14 to 21 day course is recommended, but some studies suggest that a 10 to 14 day course is equally effective, depending on the Mayo Clinic.
If the central nervous system has been affected by the disease, antibiotics can be given intravenously for 14 to 28 days. This treatment eliminates the infection, but you may need more time to recover from the symptoms. Side effects of this treatment may include a lower white blood cell count, diarrhea or infection with other antibiotic-resistant organisms that are not related to Lyme disease.
Prevention
The CDC recommends using insect repellent with at least a 20% DEET concentration and avoiding forested areas with areas of tall grass where ticks are most frequently found. It also suggests checking for ticks daily and bathing shortly after being outdoors. Using a wipe while you bathe can eliminate ticks that are not attached to the skin.
Covering yourself outdoors can also help: Wear shoes, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats and gloves in wooded or grassy areas, says the Mayo Clinic.
Your pets can also bring ticks home, so check them regularly.
READ: A boy heard a hum and felt something strange; what they found in his ear surprised his doctors
More information about ticks
These arachnids cannot fly or jump, but wait for a host, be it a mammal, a bird, a reptile or an amphibian, to feed while resting on the tips of the grasses and shrubs. They cling to the leaves and grass with the lower legs, a position called “search.”
When the host passes, the tick goes up and finds a place to bite.
In addition to Lyme disease, ticks can also transmit other diseases such as babesiosis and Colorado tick fever.
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