Jul 12, 2018 4 min read

Q.Tell me about Lyme disease. I’m spending the summer with my gram. She nags me about it every day. Something about ticks. You may ask why I didn’t just Google about it. Because we’re in the middle of nowhere, that’s why! You can’t get a signal out here to save your soul! That’s why I sent this to you the old-fashioned way, in a letter. This is the longest summer of my life. I think I’ll die of boredom.

13-year-old

Mary Jo’s response: I enjoyed receiving your old-fashioned letter. You seem to be a spirited person. Please don’t die of boredom.

Your gram is offering you a priceless gift. Time spent with her will give you memories to last a lifetime. She’s already influencing you – I don’t know many people your age who use the phrase “save your soul.” Some of my best life lessons were learned from my Nonnie – my grandma. I miss her. If you open your mind to spending the summer with a person who loves you enough to “nag” you about a dangerous disease, you may find yourself a better person this fall.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), Lyme disease is indeed spread through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

Early signs and symptoms (three to 30 days after a tick bite) are:

• Fever, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes.
• A skin rash that begins at the site of the bite. This rash is called erythema migrans (EM) and may expand over a period of days to reach up to 12 inches or more.
• It may create a “bull’s-eye” appearance as it enlarges

If untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.

Late signs and symptoms (days to months after a tick bite) are:

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM rashes
• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling
• Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face)
• Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness or shortness of breath
• Nerve pain
• Shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. Your gram is correct, prevention is important. You can use insect repellent and check for ticks, removing them right away. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can spread other diseases, as well. For more information and images of the EM rash, go to https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.html.

I’d like to meet you. The return address on your letter tells me you’re not in the middle of nowhere as much as you think. You could be at our Common Ground Teen Center in about 15 minutes. Ask your gram to take you to the center so you can meet new people and hang out. We’re at 92 N. Main St. in Washington, and we’re open daily from 3 to 7 p.m. She can call me first. Our office number is 724-222-2311. I’m guessing she gave you my address, so I think she may want to help you feel less bored.

Good luck!

Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email at podmj@healthyteens.com.