Lyme disease occurs when you are bitten by an infected tick. In Quebec, the available data confirm the presence of tick in a large part of Montérégie.

The first symptoms of Lyme disease usually appear between 3 and 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick.

The most common symptom is redness on the skin. It appears on the spot of the bite, most commonly on the thighs, groin, armpits or trunk. The redness grows day by day and spreads rapidly to more than 5 centimeters, and can be ring-shaped or target-shaped.

Other symptoms:- 
- Fever
- Tired
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Muscle and joint pain

For more information: sante.gouv.qc.ca/lyme

• Four Tips to Prevent Tick Bites

  1. Choosing clothing
  Ticks are often found in tall grass, ferns, and brush, and they often end up on the legs.
  - Wear light-coloured clothing so you can spot them more easily.
  - Choose long clothing.
  - Tuck the bottom of your pants into your socks.
  
  2. Protecting exposed skin
  If it’s hot or if you’re not wearing long sleeves, apply an insect repellent to exposed skin, such as a product containing DEET, before heading out.

  If you are pregnant or your child is under 3 years old, ask your pharmacist for advice on choosing a suitable product.

  3. Avoiding brush
  Ticks don’t jump: they attach when you pass close by.
  - Stay on marked trails.
  - Avoid brush and tall grass.
  - For picnics or when you want to rest, choose an open area (such as a lawn) and use a blanket.
  
  4. Checking after your walk
  As soon as you get back:
  - Take off your clothing and put it in the dryer on a high-heat setting if possible.
  - Take a shower.
  - Inspect your entire body, especially the armpits, groin, backs of the knees, neck, ears, eyelids, and scalp.
  - Also do a careful check on children.

• How to remove a tick?

  1. Remove the tick using tweezers, which you can purchase at a drugstore. Be careful not to squeeze or crush the tick’s abdomen, which may cause it to transmit bacteria into the bite wound. 

  2. Grasp the tick by the head and pull it straight out, and then disinfect the bite. If a piece of the tick’s head (without its abdomen) remains under your skin, you are not in danger of contracting disease. Your body will push this remaining piece out on its own.

  3. Check the marks left by the bite. If you see a red bull’s-eye shape gradually form and spread, check with your physician. Taken promptly, an antibiotic treatment (available without a prescription) can stop the disease in its tracks.