DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My brother and his family are coming to visit us soon. We live in an area where there has been a lot of Lyme disease. His wife is terrified by it. Will you provide some information for me so I can put her mind to rest? She would appreciate knowing how to prevent it. – P.L.

ANSWER: Lyme disease has been found in almost all states, but the heaviest concentration of cases is in the northern part of the East Coast, Minnesota, Wisconsin and a few pockets in California. It’s a bacterial illness that’s transmitted to humans by the bite of a few species of ticks.

The first sign of Lyme disease begins within a month of the bite of an infected tick. It’s a round patch of red skin that keeps expanding. Its diameter can reach 2 inches (5 cm) or more. The patch most frequently occurs on skin bordering the area under the arms, the beltline, the groin or behind the knees. These are the places where ticks like to hang out. At the time of the rash’s appearance, people feel sapped of energy and can have headaches, sore muscles, sore joints and enlarged lymph nodes. At this point, antibiotic treatment usually puts an end to the disease.

Prevention for your sister-in-law is of more importance than diagnosis. Everyone should apply insect repellants containing DEET and reapply them according to the directions on the container. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants with cuffs tucked into the socks are barriers to ticks. It’s a bit unrealistic to dress like this in the summer, but your sister-in-law might take to the idea. Inspection of the body – front and back, top to bottom – for ticks should be a nightly ritual. If an infected tick is removed within 24 hours of landing on the body, the chances of coming down with Lyme disease are very slim.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Have you ever heard of Synthroid causing a dry mouth? I stopped taking it after my mouth had gotten terribly dry. After doing so, my mouth stopped being dry.

My doctor doesn’t believe me. He says it is impossible and wants me to go back on Synthroid. I’m resisting doing this. What would you do? – M.Z.

ANSWER: If I needed thyroid hormone, I wouldn’t go without it. If you do, in time every body process will slow down, and you’ll feel like a limp dishrag.

Have thyroid blood tests done to make sure you’re not drifting into a state of having too little thyroid hormone. Or ask your doctor for a different preparation of thyroid hormone. Synthroid is not the only one.

I have never heard of Synthroid producing a dry mouth, but I believe you.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Recently you had a letter about fingernails that split and peel. A doctor told me to put extra-virgin olive oil on my food. Don’t use it to cook or heat it up, just pour it from the bottle onto food. It took six months, but my nails have grown out strong and lovely. – W.H.

ANSWER: I never heard of this, but if you’re right, W.H., women will be eternally grateful to you. I don’t know if this works for everyone, but olive oil is healthy, so it can’t hurt.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com

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