About Lyme DiseaseLyme disease is caused by a kind of bacteria called a spirochete (say: "spy-ro-keet") and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. The scientific name of the blacklegged tick is Ixodes scapularis. Many people know the blacklegged tick by another common name, the deer tick.
Although found all over the United States, Lyme Disease is most common along the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific Northwest. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease.
Because the ticks are hard to find, it helps to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease. It's easy to overlook a tick bite. Many people who get Lyme disease don't remember being bitten. If you know that you have been bitten call your doctor. He or she may want you to save the tick after removal so that the tick can later be identified as the type that may carry Lyme disease.
Most cases of early stage Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Treatment for later stages is more difficult often requiring extended and repeated courses of antibiotic therapy. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, landscaping, and integrated pest management. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick borne diseases as well such as Rocky Mountain spotted Fever.
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