Lyme
disease
How
can Lyme disease be prevented?
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Humans do not develop an immunity to LD and re-infection is possible
A vaccine is available for dogs, and in 1998 the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved a new vaccine against Lyme disease
for humans called LYMErix. The vaccine stimulates the human immune
system to produce antibodies against the bacteria that cause Lyme
disease. However, unlike other antibodies that fight the bacteria
in the body, the Lyme disease antibodies will actually enter the
tick as it bites a person, killing the bacteria inside the tick.
The vaccine is not 100 percent effective, however, and the FDA
recommends still using other preventive measures. Some general
guidelines for preventing LD include the following:
Ticks cannot bite through clothing; dress your child and family
in:
- Light-colored clothing.
- Long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants.
- Socks and closed-toe shoes.
- Long pants with legs tucked into socks.
Check your family often for ticks, including:
Other helpful measures include the following:
Walk on cleared paths and pavement through wooded areas and
fields when possible.
Shower after all outdoor activities are over for the day. It
may take up to four to six hours for ticks to attach firmly
to skin. Showering will help remove unattached ticks.
Use insect repellents safely:
Products that contain DEET are tick repellents, but do not
kill the tick and are not 100 percent effective. Use a children’s
insect repellent and check with your child’s physician
if your child is younger than 1 year of age before using.
Treat clothing with a product that contains permethrin, which
is known to kill ticks on contact. Do not use permethrin on
the skin.
Check pets for ticks and treat as needed.
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