Health Pulse Are you a Trypanophobic? Emerging technologies are starting to inject themselves into the immunization process, making it more palatable for Trypanophobics (people with a fear of needles) to get immunized early in life and before they go away on vacation. Nasal spray is being tested to deliver the vaccine for Ebola, and dry-powder compounds are being tested for inhaling vaccines directly into the lungs. The Nanopatch and Sugar Microneedles are being developed in Australia for delivering a vaccine in the same manner as a nicotine patch or pain-relief remedy. The Pharmajet delivers a vaccine through the skin under high pressure, a somewhat space-age device which you may have viewed on Star Trek. And, finally, edible vaccines are being developed as well. Vaccinations are extremely important to the health of the individual and the collective health of the general public. Twenty-four per cent of adults and 63% of children have a fear of needles and the most prevalent reason for declining vaccinations by injection is due to the pain associated with getting one, or repetitive pokes with a needle. Determine post-bite if a tick had Lyme disease-causing bacteria You’ve found a tick that has bitten you or a family member. With recent media coverage about the uptick in Lyme disease-causing ticks, you’re probably rightfully concerned. If you’re wondering what to do next to minimize harm and increase safety, follow these two easy steps and have peace of mind that you did everything to protect your or your loved one’s health. 1. Remove it safely. After being outside, you should always have someone help you check for ticks on your clothes or body, and be sure to give little ones an extra hand. If you find a tick, the first thing to do is make sure that you remove the entire tick – head and body. Before you proceed to remove a tick, however, be aware that you can increase the risk of transmitting bacteria into the bloodstream if you do not remove it properly. Check Health Canada guidelines for the correct procedure and disinfect the area after removal. 2. Check the tick for the bacteria that is associated with Lyme disease. Once you remove the tick, don’t dispose of it – keep it to test if it was infected with the Borrelia bacteria known to cause Lyme disease. This is easy, with the new over-the-counter Care Plus tick test. Within 10 minutes and with a 95.8% accuracy rate, the test shows a negative or positive result for the presence of the Borrelia bacteria in the tick. The test also includes a checklist to track your symptoms. Use the test results and checklist during consultation with your doctor. You can find more information about fighting ticks and Lyme disease online at stopthetick.ca. www.newscanada.com How to remove a tick If you find a tick attached to your skin, there’s no need to panic. There are several tick-removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick quite effectively. 1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. 2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. 3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water. 4. Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers. If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred and where you most likely acquired the tick. Center for Disease Control and Prevention 36 | www.snowbirds.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx