Daily Preparedness

Lyme Disease, a tick-borne infectious disease endemic in most areas of the United States is often called the ‘great imitator’ as the symptoms can mimic everything from the flu to multiple sclerosis. Transmitted from ticks that feed on infected rodents, Lyme Disease can lead to a serious acute illness as well as a life time of chronic illness. Unfortunately, it is one of the smallest cycles of life, the nymph cycle, that ticks can be most likely to transmit infection. Treated early and aggressively, Lyme Disease patients have a good chance of making a complete recovery. Even patients with mild symptoms should be treated with antibiotics to prevent long term illness.

Of course, any disease is better prevented than treated. Ticks do not magically fly onto humans and animals. They cling to low vegetation and attach to hosts (such as mice, deer, dogs and people) as they walk by. Once attached, they imbed themselves in their host. Once they have fed, they drop off and go on to the next host.

You can avoid picking up a tick by keeping away from areas with tall grass and dense vegetation. When in these areas, walk in the center of mosed trails. Tuck your pant legs into socks and boots. When hiking, wear long-sleeved buttonless shirts tucked into your pants. Wearing light colored clothing will make it easier to see and remove ticks before they become attached. Wear tick repellent containing at least 30% DEET to the body. Clothing can be treated with up to 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin should NOT be applied to skin.

Around your home, you can reduce the likelihood of tick exposure by carefully treating your animals for ticks. Inspect them regularly for tick infestation. Likewise, check their bedding, furniture and any area of the house that could harbor a tick. Keep your grass cut, underbrush thinned in yards and maintain a clearly defined manicured border with wood chips, mulch or gravel. Keep hedges near pathways and proches well trimmed so that those walking on sidewalks do not have to brush against the greenery. Check periodically for signs of rodent infestation on your property and treat any suspected areas. Minimize deer on your property with deer repellent, fencing and replacing deer-enticing plantings with growth deer do not like such as dogwood, ferns, sage and thyme. You can also apply pesticides yourself or have it done professionally. Spring and summer months are the highest months of infection, due to the life cycle of the tick.

Anytime that you or your children are outside in an area where there may be ticks, check carefully for evidence of ticks. Should you find a tick, grasp with a blunt pair of tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Gently, but firmly, pull the tick straight out. Clean the area with soap and water, followed by an application of antiseptic. DO NOT use petroleum jelly or a match to remove the tick.

Should you find a tick on yourself, in your clothes or your bedding, it is now possible to have the tick itself tested for Lyme Disease and the most common co-infections prevalent among ticks. If the tick is loose, use tweezers to place in an a container with a lid. Contact your doctor’s office for a lab that can test the tick. Most health authorities recommend treatment with antibiotics if a tick from a human being tests positive for Lyme’s, regardless of whether the patient develops symptoms or not.

One of the most common first symptoms of Lyme Disease is a characteristic ‘bull’s eye’ rash around the site of the bite. However, remember that a rash may NOT develop. If you remember a tick bite and begin to develop symptoms, do NOT delay in being treated. Early treatment is the first and foremost way to prevent some of the most debilitating effects of Lyme Disease.

Untreated, Lyme Disease can spread to other parts of your body within a few days or weeks. It can cause damage to the nervous system, including chronic severe headaches, memory loss, encephalitis, personality disorders, depression, pain, sleep disturbances, palsy, tremors, pain, numbness, muscle weakness and fatique. Joints can become inflamed, causing pain and eventually arthritis. Lyme Disease can cause the heart to become inflamed, develop palpitations or changes in heartbeat.

Many physicians in areas where Lyme Disease is prevalent now watch for and aggressively test for Lyme Disease in patients who exhibit the early symptoms of the disease. In addition to the rash (which again may or may not occur), patients may complain of a flu like aches, pains, fevers, headache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatique. The symptoms do not go away in a few days as flu does and may or may not resolve on their own. Many patients become unbelievable weak, dizzy and may appear mentally altered. Blood tests can, in at least most people, detect the presence of the disease. Some physicians choose to begin antibiotic treatment based on clinical symptoms. The routine treatment includes at least 30 days of oral antibiotics, often extended if symptoms do not improve. Occasionally, in severe cases, IV antibiotics are given.

Like many ‘up and coming diseases’, the treatment of Lyme Disease is the source of some controversy. There are those who believe that long-term oral and IV antibiotics (sometimes into months and years) should be given. Four scientific studies have not backed up these assertions, but individual patients report an improvement in their symptoms. Unfortunately, there are some physicians and other ‘medical’ personnel who have been shown to take advantage of those with mysterious symptoms.

Should you suspect that you or a family member is developing the symptoms of Lyme Disease or have received a tick bite, be certain to contact your family physician. If in doubt, also consult a board-certified infectious disease specialist for evaluation and treatment.

Before you know it, the school bell will be ringing from kindergarten to the hallowed halls of advanced degrees. As summer winds down, it is time to once again set those alarm clocks, pack the lunches, fill up the backpacks and send the children off to school (or prepare for your homeschooling year).

No matter the grade or age of your learner, starting early and planning well can help make the school year a successful one for you and your student-children. Just a few pointers to help ease the transition:

1. Reset body clocks several weeks before school starts. If your summer schedule has included later-than-usual bedtimes and wake-up times, now is the time to reset those internal clocks. Begin with a few minutes each day, working toward a regular school schedule at least a week before school begins.

2. Do your back-to-school shopping NOW (if you haven’t already completed it). Be certain to get your supply lists from school and shop at home FIRST. You might be surprised how many supplies you have on hand. Take your amended list to the store and check off items as you purchase them. Label everything and pack away (far, far away if you have anxious little fingers around) so that all is ready before school begins.

3. Shop at home first for school clothes. Get the laundry caught up and see what junior already has in his/her wardrobe BEFORE you go shopping. Set a strict budget and shop the end-of-summer sales for fall clothing. Don’t forget to check sibling hand-me-downs as a potential source of clothing. Also check with friends, thrift shops, freecycle and Craigslist for clothing exchanges & great deals.

4. Include in every backpack an emergency contact card that includes your child’s name, address, phone, parents’ contact info, alternate contact person, important medical history (allergies, conditions, etc) and out-of-state contact. Laminate the card or seal in a ziploc bag. Attach to the inside of the backpack with a safety pin.

5. Label backpacks on the inside with your child’s name—not the outside. Outside names help predators befriend small children.

6. If your child has severe allergies to items that might be in the class or lunch rooms (such as peanuts, wheat, etc) be certain to speak with the school administration, school nurse and all classroom teachers that might have contact with your child (don’t forget art, music, etc). Speak face-to-face as well as present written information about the allergy, the possible reaction and medication that must be given. Don’t hesitate to check back with all you spoke to in a week or two to make certain that they remember. Ask what has been done to protect your child.

7. Do several ‘trial runs’ to elementary school with your child. If they are walking, point out the homes of friends on their route that they can seek help from. Be certain they know who to go to if they should ever come home and find no one home. The same thing goes for after school caregivers..make sure they have an emergency alternative planned.

8. Check to see what the school’s policy is concerning early dismissal or delayed starts. Do they have an emergency contact system in place that you can sign up for? Do you have childcare arranged for such instances?

9. Be certain that your older children (middle school & high school) are well versed in preventing accidents, how to extract themselves from a dangerous situation and who to report suspected or potential violence to. Have a frank discussion with them about the dangers of fire arms, weapons, drugs, hate crimes, sexual abuse and harassment (including being groped, spoken to inappropriately, etc), physical threats and abuse. Sexual abuse and harassment have become so common, that a shockingly high percentage of high school girls do not even recognize it when it happens to them,

10. Have the same frank discussion with college-bound students. Be certain that they are aware of safety precautions, the dangers of date rape, the potential for drugging of beverages (at a party or other social gathering, they should only drink from a can or bottle they open and which remains in their sight at all times), car safety and dorm safety. Know what safety procedures are in place at your child’s college campus and be certain they your student understands them.

11. Be certain that your middle and high school students understand that the effort they put into school now will affect the remainder of their life. The grades and activities they participate in now will affect their ability to be accepted to college & possibly win scholarships.

12. Establish good sleeping and eating habits for your students! Many high school students are chronically sleep deprived and their grades suffer. Look carefully at school lunches offered. Are the meals nutritious, healthful and handled carefully? If you are packing lunches, be certain to read up on safe food handling practices.

13. Be open and realistic about your expectations for your children’s academic endeavors. Be certain the child undeerstands what you expect and the consequences if they do not meet those expectations.

14. Have a frank discussion with your college-bound students about the realities of student debt. The average undergraduate leaves college with a diploma and $25,000 to $45,000 in debt. Advanced degree holders leave with debts that spiral upwards of $100,000. Be certain that your college student understands the full picture of the dangers of accruing not only student loan debt, but credit card debt. There are thousands and thousands of stories out there of college graduates with unmarketable degrees and a lifetime of debt to pay back. Explore other avenues of financing college, such as scholarships, work study programs, community college for general education credits, work-release programs and payback options through employers. If student loans are an absolute necessity, be sure that they are used only for absolutely necessary educational expenses. Be certain that the student understands that debt accumulated now will not disappear and should they marry, they may be doubling their debt.

15. Send your college student to the dorm with a mini-72 hour kit. Include foods that can be eaten without cooking, a change of clothing, emergency contact info, water, a first aid kit, a ’space’ blanket, a flashlight, a candle, a simple sewing kit, some cash in small bills and some matches.

16. Before college begins, check to see if your student is covered by your medical and dental plans. Be sure that your student has the appropriate policy identification cards and knows where to get care. If your child has a less-than-run-of-the-mill medical history, locate a physician in the college area and forward pertinent medical information.

17. Be certain that your college-bound student understands the realities of and how to prevent identity theft, including medical identity theft.

Enjoy watching your child grow up and conquer the world!

NOTE: While writing this article, I missed some VERY important information. Thankfully, Tami sent in a comment reminding me with her words of wisdom. Here is her comment:

“I just want to add to your note about preparing for college students–parents need to know that when their child heads off to college, there are privacy laws that apply to their child, and the parents do not have the legal right to get any information about grades or anything else. Also the parents do not have the right to be notified about any medical issues and do not have the right to be involved in any medical decisions. This can all be addressed legally, with medical power of attorney and other legal documents, but it’s something that all parents need to be aware of and discuss with their almost-grown children.”

And from me:

Thank you, Tami for pointing out this important item I missed! You are absolutely correct that parents (even ones paying the tuition bill) will have NO legal right to obtain information about their legal-aged child’s school or medical records. Even if your child is ill, the physician is constrained by law. He/she cannot discuss your child’s case or history without (except for possibly life & death situations) your child’s consent. Before dropping Junior off, have him/her execute a medical power of attorney which gives you permission to speak to caregivers. You can easily find a ‘fill in the blank’ form online by searching for medical power of attorney. Ideally, the form will be notarized and include express permission in compliance with HIPPA laws allowing you to speak to any medical professional caring for your child. A similar form should be completed with regards to academic records, etc. Thanks again, Tami!