Lyme is a disease transmitted by ticks found in many areas mainly, in the northeast and in the north of the midwest. Each year more than 30,000 cases are reported in the United States and many more are probably not reported. Ticks are small 8-legged creatures that can be hard to see. Deer ticks – which can carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that cause Lyme disease – are especially small. The young “nymphs” are the size of poppy seeds. Adult deer ticks are not much larger – about the size of a sesame seed. Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease or another infection. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle or joint pain and extreme fatigue. Generally, people with this disease have an expanding red rash that sometimes resembles a porthole. “The rash is usually mild, not painful or itchy, so people may not realize they are sick,” If left untreated, the infection can spread and cause rashes in other parts of the body. Some people may develop neurological problems, arthritis or other disorders. . Most tick bites that cause disease occur in the spring and summer months, when ticks are most active and when people spend more time outdoors. So be careful with ticks! Get used to taking care of ticks when you venture outdoors.
What is Lyme disease?
