LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Learn more about Lyme disease

Posted

To the editor:

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by tiny ticks that live mostly in wooded, grassy and brushy areas.

Lyme disease season generally runs from May through August. While this month is drawing to a close, ticks that carry Lyme disease don’t know that. How do I know? Because I got infected. And I didn’t even know I had been bitten. So take care that you don’t become infected.

You can protect yourself from Lyme disease by wearing long-sleeved shirts and, most important, closed-toe shoes, socks, and long pants. For extra protection, tuck your pants into your socks.

When you finish your gardening, hiking, picnicking, or other outdoor activities, check your clothing — and yourself — carefully. If you find a tick on your body, remove it with a tweezer and call your doctor.

Often tick bites go undetected. If you develop flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, muscle pain or dizziness, call your doctor and ask for a blood test for Lyme. Or call the Lyme disease diagnostic center at New York Medical College at (914) 493-8425.

Judy Matthews

Have an opinion? Share your thoughts as a letter to the editor. Make your submission to letters@riverdalepress.com. Please include your full name, phone number (for verification purposes only), and home address (which will not be published). The Riverdale Press maintains an open submission policy, and stated opinions do not necessarily represent the publication.
Judy Matthews,

Comments