By Alexis Chesney ND, LAc
As summer arrives, many families are planning vacations and trips abroad. This reminds me of a patient I met this year who reported experiencing the onset of a fever, flu-like symptoms, and joint pain upon returning from a biking trip in Europe. Upon testing, Borrelia garinii, one of the Borrelia species that causes Lyme disease in Europe, was confirmed. This case highlights the importance of being aware of the different types of ticks and the diseases they can transmit when traveling abroad. By understanding these risks and taking preventive measures, you can ensure a safer and more enjoyable trip if you are traveling to Europe this summer.
Since ticks in North America do not carry Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus or Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus, it’s essential to be aware of the symptom profiles for these diseases, which can be acquired overseas.
1. Early Symptoms (first 5 days):
2. Asymptomatic Phase (7 days):
3. Symptomatic Phase Phase:
If you get bitten by a tick, save the tick for testing. Place it in a ziplock bag and send it to a trusted facility such as TickReport once you return home. This is crucial, especially if you develop symptoms after a tick bite. Watch for symptoms especially over the next 30 days from a tick bite: “bull’s eye” or other rash around tick bite, fever, flu-like symptoms, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, headaches, neck pain, facial palsy, lymph node swelling, palpitations, night sweats, air hunger or non-exertional shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, cough, sore throat, confusion, disorientation, difficulty breathing or speaking, loss of coordination, seizures, lethargy, paralysis, body rash. Report symptoms to a health care provider. You can find doctors on Project Lyme’s provider search.
Bringing awareness and taking preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases. For more detailed information and resources, consider reviewing the new online course “Preventing Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases: Ticks from Around the World, Diseases They Carry, Prevention, and Acute Treatments” by Alexis Chesney available here: https://health-transformations.teachable.com/p/preventing-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases.
By staying informed and taking these preventive steps, you can enjoy a safer travel experience this summer.
Alexis Chesney ND, LAc is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in the treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. For more information about her book and her protocols, see her website https://www.dralexischesney.com/.
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