Be Careful Hiking, Cases of Lyme Disease Reported in Ogle County

If you plan on spending any time in the woods this summer, checking for this creepy crawlies is a must!

Deer ticks, or black-legged ticks, are the primary carries of Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be very serious if diagnosed.

Symptoms include fever and chills, headache, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, skin rashes, along with swollen lymph nodes. IF it goes untreated, it could cause complications with the heart and nervous system.

On a positive note, if found early can be treated with several antibiotics. If found in the later stages, one could still be treated with antibiotics, but have an increased chance of permanent damage to the joints and nervous system.

Since February, the Ogle County Health Department has been investigating three cases of Lyme disease, asking that the public educate themselves on would happen in the event of a tick bite.

MyStateline.com had some helpful tips that could help prevent one from being bit by an infected tick while hitting the trails this summer:

• Walk in the center of the trails
• Avoid wooded and brushy area with high grass and leaf litter
• Use repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, IR335, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or 2-undecanone
• Use clothing treated with permethrin