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Ticks are a problem all over. Just take precautions is about all you can do. Anywhere outside of the city enviroment you can have a problem.
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Are the ticks less in numbers higher north where theres more snow days, colder?
No facts but we have seen ticks even then the temps drop. They seem to be able to survive in a wide range of weather. You could never go anywhere near a wooded area but that kind of defeats the reason for living up here.
I have been reading many posts that Lyme disease is bad in NH. But are there certain areas of NH that Lyme is more prominent?
What areas have the higher cases of Lyme?
We were and are considering Conway NH, another area to move somewhere outside of Manchester & Portsmouth- like maybe Epping.
Are the ticks less in numbers higher north where theres more snow days, colder?
Thanks!
Ticks are everywhere and IMHO overblown, it's just an infection. I had Lyme. A two week run of antiboitics, gone forever see ya. I've had more trouble from sinus infections.
Just check yourself after a walk through brush, and "shake out" your hairy pets when the come in and do a quick rub down.
P.S. The ticks are not the problem, they are just a carrier of the bacteria like a mosquito with malaria.
Ticks are everywhere and IMHO overblown, it's just an infection. I had Lyme. A two week run of antiboitics, gone forever see ya. I've had more trouble from sinus infections.
How long did you have lyme symptoms before your doc ordered a lyme test?
Incidences of lyme disease do tend to be more common in the warmer southeastern part of the state, particularly in Rockingham and Strafford counties.
That said, this is probably the last thing I'd let determine what part of the state to live in. Common sense precautions should be taken any time you walk through tall grasses or dense brush during tick season anywhere in New England, and in the rare event that you do actually contract lyme disease, a watchful eye for the symptoms will help you stop it very early.
[quote=Verseau;15169706]Incidences of lyme disease do tend to be more common in the warmer southeastern part of the state, particularly in Rockingham and Strafford counties.quote]
Iu am sorry but this is Incorrect. You can get lyme disease ANYWHERE there are ticks. Which is any woooded or grassy area. Which is 90% of NH.
All you have to do is protect yourself. Always check for them on you and your kiddo's. Not to mention your pets. I do beleive ticks are a little worse near highly pine tree wooded areas.
And YES NH has the highest rate of lyme disease. This is because we are in the woods and surrounded by TONS of woodlands!
Having that said, don't be afraid to move here because of this. Just take precautions and you and your family will be just fine
Simple family outings in the woods, park, or even your own backyard can leave you vulnerable to picking up ticks. It's important to fully understand ticks in order to avoid being bitten by ticks that may carry Lyme disease. Tick Characteristics
Ticks are related to mites, spiders, and scorpions. Most adult ticks are the size of a sesame seed, and nymphs are the size of a poppy seed.
Ticks do not have wings and can't jump. Instead, they climb up long blades of grass or low brush, and then attach themselves to animals or people passing through the vegetation.
Ticks are noted for crawling under clothing, hiding under a person's hairline, and attaching to skin. Some ticks have an uncanny ability to detect people up to 18 ft. away!
Understanding Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a serious disorder transmitted by ticks to humans.
It was first identified in the United States in 1975.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2003 and 2007, there were approximately 111,826 reported cases of Lyme disease in the U.S.
How Do People Get Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a microscopic, corkscrew-shaped bacterium that is transmitted by the bite of deer ticks and western black-legged ticks.
Generally, a tick has to remain attached to your skin for an average of 36 to 48 hours to pass the Lyme disease pathogen to the human host.
Symptoms of Lyme disease are often times confused with influenza, infectious mononucleosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Headache
Chills and fever
Muscle and joint pain
Fatigue
Swollen lymph nodes
A red rash that resembles a bull's-eye
Later Symptoms (Weeks, Months, or Years After a Bite From an Infected Tick) Include:
Brief arthritic pain and swelling in larger joints, such as in the knee
Nervous system abnormalities, such as numbness, pain, partial paralysis of facial muscles, and meningitis
Irregular heart rhythm
Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Ticks
When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient. Follow the directions on the package.
Wear light-colored socks and pants to help spot ticks.
Tuck pant legs into socks to reduce the risk of ticks getting under your clothing. Spray socks and pant cuffs with a repellent for added protection.
A daily ritual of examining yourself, your kids, and your family pet for ticks should be followed.
Stay away from heavily wooded areas and high grassy areas.
Keep your lawn well maintained.
Brush leaves away from your home.
Trim low-lying bushes to let in as much sunlight as possible. This will help keep your yard from becoming a shelter for small mammals that may act as a host for ticks.
If you find a tick, use a pair of tweezers to grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible (without crushing it) and pull it directly out. Do not remove ticks with petroleum jelly or hot objects, such as matches or cigarettes. These methods can increase the chance of a host tick injecting you with dangerous bacteria.
Make sure to see your doctor if you feel you may have been exposed to Lyme disease. In most cases, Lyme disease can be effectively treated with prescribed antibiotics.
Incidences of lyme disease do tend to be more common in the warmer southeastern part of the state, particularly in Rockingham and Strafford counties
Iu am sorry but this is Incorrect. You can get lyme disease ANYWHERE there are ticks. Which is any woooded or grassy area. Which is 90% of NH.
Um, yes, it is possible to contract Lyme disease anywhere in NH. That doesn't change the fact that incidences of the disease are more common in the southern part of the state. That is just fact.
Here is a more detailed map: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/rdonlyres/erq73iia3bvks2jxmtdmpwqadoxwjwaq3fceyoag5kogdqqcd7 u6kt6kstoru55est34qpbrvwtu7nrklhqjbbyhbjg/map08.pdf (broken link)
Common sense precautions should be taken regardless of what area of the state you live in.
In answer to the OP's questions, towns in Strafford, Rockingham and Hillsborough County have had the highest number of confirmed Lyme cases. This is not surprising since these are also the most highly populated areas of the state.
dolphinsfuru, thank you for sharing this good tick information. The OFF.com website does seem to have some good info on ticks and prevention, but unfortunately falls short especially when addressing the symptoms of Lyme.
The 6 symptoms listed are sort of the 'classic', CDC-approved list of symptoms, and are what you might expect to see in the first stage, called Early Lyme.
Left untreated (or under-treated) Lyme can progress into the next stage, called “early disseminated Lyme disease”. This takes weeks to months afer the tick bite and initial infection, which may seem to have cleared up, and is remembered as a flu-type episode. The bacteria spread through the body and begin to affect other systems. Some of the symptoms at this stage are numbness or pain in the arms or legs, Bell’s palsy (a paralysis of facial muscles typically affecting just one side of the face), meningitis – with fever, stiff neck, and severe headaches, or an abnormal heart rate.
The third stage of Lyme disease is called “late Lyme disease” or “chronic Lyme disease”. This third stage can occur anywhere from weeks, months, or even years after the initial infection. Some of the symptoms of this stage Lyme disease may be: recurring bouts of arthritis (often localized in a few or just one joint, most commonly the knees), problems in the nervous system, including memory loss and difficulty concentrating, generalized muscle pain, and non-restful sleep.
Unfortunately, Lyme has become a very controversial disease to have, and to treat. And New Hampshire is finding itself smack dab in the middle of this controversy because the number of diagnosed Lyme cases has exploded in the past few years. The good news is that doctors ARE recognizing and treating Lyme in the early stages. When caught early, treatment is generally quick and sucessful. A 28-day bout of antibiotics can resolve the infection.
Unfortunately, there are many doctors that continue to follow CDC guidelines and wait for a positive test result before beginning antibiotics. Finding a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD) who will treat swiftly is crucial: Lyme titers are not good indicators early in the disease, nor is the ELISA, which tests for antibodies in the blood. Since it takes the body 2 to 6 weeks to form the antibodies, testing before this time will result in a false negative. The Western Lyme Blot is the most reliable test (especially if done through Igenex, a California lab which tests ONLY for Lyme Disease and the co-infections that are commonly found in Lyme patients) The point is that waiting for a positive test result only gives the bacteria time to multiply and set the stage for a long-term, body wide infection...
With all of that said, there is no reason to live in fear of Lyme disease. We live in a beautiful state--go out and enjoy life. Be aware, make 'tick checks' a part of your daily life (specially for your kids!) and be alert for any messages our body is sending us that something is just “not right”. If you feel exhausted, sore and achy, or are running fevers, let your doctor know. We are our own best barometer of health.
Wow, this turned into a long post... sorry about that, get me off my soapbox. Spreading awareness of what Lyme Disease is and is not is very important to me. If you'd like to do some more reading from folks much more knowlegable than I, please check out the following sites:
Watch the trailer: Untitled Document (http://www.underourskin.com/movie.html - broken link)
and look for a screening near you: Under Our Skin: An Infectious New Film
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