The arrival of summer often rhymes with outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or picnics with friends. But once again this year, it's time to watch out for ticks, particularly in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, which can carry Lyme disease.

According to the Direction de la Santé publique de la Montérégie (DSPM), ticks carrying Lyme disease are particularly prevalent in Vaudreuil-Soulanges. 

The interactive map published by the DSPM shows that in the towns of Vaudreuil-Dorion and Rigaud, the risk of exposure to ticks is not only present, but endemic.

Post-exposure prophylaxis with an antibiotic containing doxycycline is recommended, but insect analysis is not necessary.

For other towns in the region, the risk remains high, though not endemic. Post-exposure prophylaxis is still recommended, as is tick analysis.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of a tick carrying the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. It can affect both humans and animals. 

Every year, around a hundred people in Montérégie contract Lyme disease, which is transmitted to humans by a tick infected with a bacterium.

In 2022, in Montérégie alone, 113 people were diagnosed with the disease. Of these, 105 had been bitten by a tick in their home town. 

As the diagnosis of Lyme disease can, in some cases, be difficult to make, the actual number of cases is probably higher than the number reported. However, in Quebec, Lyme disease has been a notifiable disease (MADO) since 2003.

Physicians and laboratory managers who detect a case of Lyme disease are therefore obliged to inform the public health authorities. This system makes it possible to monitor the evolution of the disease in Quebec.

Symptoms

Tick bites are generally painless and often go unnoticed.

The most common symptom is a reddening of the skin that causes little or no pain or itching. It appears at the site of the bite, most frequently on the thighs, groin, armpits or trunk.

It can sometimes be found in hard-to-see places, such as the back of the knees, the lower buttocks or back, the scalp, the back of the ears, the eyebrows, the navel or between the toes.

In addition to rashes, a tick bite can cause headaches, fever, fatigue and muscle and joint pain.

The first symptoms of Lyme disease generally appear between 3 and 30 days after the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary from person to person. It can also lead to more serious consequences, such as arthritis or nervous system disorders, if not treated in time.

Easy to prevent

The good news is that this disease can be prevented with a few simple precautions:

Stay on groomed trails to avoid contact with ticks, which are usually found in tall grass and shrubs;

Apply mosquito repellent (containing DEET or icardine) according to the manufacturer's recommendations, or wear clothing that covers the skin, weather permitting;

Examine your body, those of your children and pets when you get home to locate and remove any ticks that may have attached themselves to your skin.

How to remove ticks

The longer a tick remains in contact with the skin, the greater the risk of contamination. 

A fine pair of pliers with pointed ends (splinter forceps) can be used to extract the tick from the skin. Place the forceps as close as possible to the surface of the skin and, using a safe, continuous movement, pull the tick perpendicular to the skin without twisting.

Avoid crushing or puncturing the tick, however, as this increases the risk of contamination. If a small part of the tick remains in the skin, remove it with the pliers - it can no longer transmit the bacteria. Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water after removing the tick.

To find out how to do this, visit the special website at quebec.ca/health/advice-and-prevention/health-and-environment/removing-a-tick-and-tick.

Possible treatments

The risk of contracting the disease increases when the tick remains attached to the skin for more than 24 hours.

However, the disease can be treated with an antibiotic. It can be obtained quickly as a prophylaxis if in doubt.

Pharmacists can now prescribe it in cases where the tick is lodged or has bitten a infected part of the body. The tick must have remained attached to the skin for more than 24 hours.

To find out more about Lyme disease, the Montérégie public health department invites citizens to consult the maladiedelymemonteregie.com portal.