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22 Hudson Valley Parent n August 2017 Recognize the symptoms There are a few misunderstandings about Lyme disease. First, you may not always find a tick on you. Secondly, the Lyme disease rash is typically the first sign of infection and is usually a circular rash called erythema migrans (EM). "However, 10 to 15 percent of patients present without a rash," says D'Ambrosio. Other symptoms include fever, body aches and flu-like illness, the most common presentation. "Also remember that Lyme disease can present with no symptoms and then there's also Lyme disease with facial palsy on one side of the face," says Dummett. "Lyme can also , healthquest.org/UrgentCare You don't need an appointment for your child's school, camp or sports physical. Take a break from enjoying the summer sun and walk in to your nearest Health Quest Urgent Care office today. S E E N B Y O N E . C A R E D F O R B Y M A N Y . LaGrangeville | Wappingers Falls Open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week Make summer physicals as important as summer fun. TICKS (Continued from Page 21) cause arthritis and even meningitis." D'Ambrosio also admits that when children, like Jackson and Bernard, have joint pain it's hard not to think that it is growing pains. "You have to look at the context of their pain," he says. "If they have joint pain once or twice, that's fine, but if it's more repetitive or you've seen a tick, then it's time to ask some specific questions about possible Lyme." Get the proper treatment Lyme disease isn't the only tick-borne illness that you need to be concerned about. According to the CDC, ticks carry many illnesses and it all depends on where you get bit and by what tick. "People who travel have to be concerned about, for example, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and that's something you see in the southwest, along the Mexico border," says Dummett. A blood test will determine if your child has a tick related disease and, if it comes back positive, your child will be put on a course of treatment. "Lyme disease isn't something to take lightly," says Dummett. "It's serious, but it's also something we can treat with antibiotics. We give children younger than eight years old amox- icillin and children older than eight are given doxycycline." Once the rounds of antibiotics are complete, the virus is eliminated. For more information on tick borne illnesses, their symptoms and treatment, visit the Lyme Disease Association website at www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org. Lisa Iannucci has raised three children in the Hudson Valley area and currently resides in Poughkeepsie.