Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by infected ticks that live on deer and can be passed to humans and animals. This disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States.
Essential Information About Lyme Disease
Is Lyme Disease Dangerous?
Lyme disease is relatively rare, with a higher risk for those living in or spending time in grassy, wooded areas where Lyme-carrying ticks thrive. This unusual disease can be difficult to diagnose and can lead to severe consequences if left untreated, which may result in complications such as:
- Chronic arthritis (Lyme arthritis), especially in the knees
- Neurological symptoms, such as facial paralysis and neuropathy
- Cognitive impairments, such as memory loss
- Irregular heartbeats
Therefore, it is crucial to take standard precautions in tick-infested areas. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential if you contract the disease.
Early Signs and Symptoms
A small, red swelling resembling a mosquito bite typically appears at the site of a tick bite and usually resolves within a few days. This is a normal reaction and does not indicate Lyme disease.
However, these signs and symptoms may develop within a month after infection:
- Rash: From three to 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick, a red, expanding area may appear, sometimes clearing in the center, creating a “bull’s-eye” pattern. The rash (erythema migrans) expands slowly over several days and can spread up to 12 inches (30 cm). It is typically not itchy or painful but may feel warm to the touch. The rash is one of the hallmark features of Lyme disease, although not everyone with Lyme will develop it. Some individuals may develop this rash at multiple sites on their body.
- Other symptoms: Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, headaches, stiff neck, and swollen lymph nodes may accompany the rash.
Signs of Lyme disease include a small, red swelling, similar to a mosquito bite.
Later Signs and Symptoms
If left untreated, new signs and symptoms of Lyme infection may appear within weeks to months. These include:
- Rashes may appear on other areas of your body.
- Joint pain: Severe joint pain and swelling, especially affecting your knees, but the pain may shift from one joint to another.
- Neurological problems: Weeks, months, or even years after infection, you may experience inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of the face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness in limbs, and muscle movement weakness.
Less Common Signs and Symptoms
Weeks after infection, some people may develop:
- Heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats
- Eye inflammation
- Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
- Severe fatigue
Is Lyme Disease Treatable?
Lyme disease is best treated in its early stages. Early treatment typically involves a simple course of oral antibiotics lasting 14 to 21 days to eliminate all traces of the infection. The medications used to treat Lyme disease include:
- Doxycycline for adults and children over 8 years old
- Cefuroxime and amoxicillin for adults, young children, and breastfeeding women
Persistent or chronic Lyme disease is treated with intravenous antibiotics for a duration of 14 to 21 days. While this treatment helps eliminate the infection, your symptoms may improve more slowly.
After antibiotic treatment, a small number of people may still experience lingering symptoms, such as muscle pain and fatigue. The cause of these ongoing symptoms, referred to as post-Lyme disease syndrome, is not alleviated by various antibiotics.
Prevention of Lyme Disease
Preventing Lyme disease primarily involves reducing the risk of tick bites. Here are some helpful measures to prevent tick bites:
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
- Clear thick brush and wooded areas around your home to minimize hiding spots for ticks, and store firewood in sunny areas.
- Use insect repellent. A product containing 10% DEET will protect you for about 2 hours. Note not to apply more DEET than necessary during your time outdoors. Do not apply insect repellent to the hands of young children or on the faces of children under 2 months old.
- For pets, keep them clean to avoid tick infestations.
- After outdoor activities in “at-risk” areas, always check your body for unusual bites and shower thoroughly afterward. Pay special attention to areas under the arms and behind the knees, in and around the ears, in the navel, on the scalp and hair, between the legs, and around the waist. If a tick remains attached to the skin for less than 24 hours, it is unlikely to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
What to Do If Bitten by a Tick?
If bitten by a tick, you should remove it with tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward gently. If the tick is on clothing, you can place the clothing in the dryer for 15 minutes.
Although only about 1% of all ticks carry the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, it is still best to take preventative measures. When bitten by a tick, you should monitor your body for symptoms. If you notice any unusual signs, you should go to a hospital for accurate examination and diagnosis.
