What is Lyme Disease?
Who gets Lyme Disease?
How is Lyme Disease spread?
What are the symptoms?
Does past infection with Lyme Disease make a person immune?
What is the treatment of Lyme disease?
Is there a vaccine available to prevent Lyme Disease?
What else can be done to prevent Lyme Disease?
How should a tick be removed?

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is caused by a bacterial infection transmitted by a black legged tick called Ixodes scapularis. The nymphal tick is about the size of a period. The adult tick is about the size of a capital "O". Only 20%-30% of ticks are infected with the bacteria. Generally, ticks need to be attached for approximately 24 to 36 hours to transmit the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

Anyone who spends time outdoors in tick-infested environments is at an increased risk of being bitten by an infected tick.

Immature ticks become infected with the Lyme Disease bacteria by feeding on the infected blood and tissue of small rodents, such as the white-footed mouse. In later stages, the infected ticks then transmit the bacteria to humans and other mammals during the feeding process. Once the tick is infected and attaches to a human host for approximately 24 to 36 hours, the host may become infected. There is no evidence that Lyme Disease is transmitted from one human to another.

Within 3 to 30 days, one or more rashes may appear – an expanding rash , usually not itchy. At approximately the same time, the patient may experience flu-like symptoms, headaches, fatigue, fever, a stiff neck and/or aching muscles and joints.. If untreated, weeks to months later additional symptoms involving swelling of joints, cardiac abnormalities, nervous system and cognitive disorders may develop.

Evidence indicates that past infection does not make a person immune. Re-infection is possible.

Lyme disease is easily treated in the early stages. Physicians usually treat with oral antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin for a period of 3 to 4 weeks.

On February 25, 2002 the maker of LYMErix, the only approved Lyme disease vaccine, announced that it was taking the controversial drug off the market because of dwindling sales.

Ticks live in marshes, woods, forests, bushes, shrubs, and tall grass. Take measures to create tick-free zone in your yard. If you must go into these areas, wear light colored clothing and tuck your pants into your socks. Tick repellents containing no more than 30% DEET (10% for children) are recommended. Be sure to follow the directions carefully and wash all treated skin when returning indoors. (DEET may damage some synthetic fabrics) Permethrin also offers some protection if sprayed on clothes 24 hours in advance. Daily full body checks and showers using a washcloth are recommended prevention behaviors aimed at finding and removing ticks before they have had a chance to engorge themselves for 24 hours or more.

Grasp the tick’s attached mouthparts with a tweezers and pull upward and out. Do not squeeze crush or puncture the body of the tick since it may contain infectious fluids. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands. See or call a doctor if tick removal is incomplete.