Lyme disease Health Article

Definition

Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease spread through a tick bite.

This article offers a general overview on Lyme disease. For specific information see:

• Stage 1 Lyme disease
• Stage 2 Lyme disease
• Stage 3 Lyme disease

Alternative Names

Borreliosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Certain ticks carry these bacteria. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with Lyme disease. You can get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick.

Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. Cases have now been reported in most parts of the U.S. Most of the cases occur in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and along the Pacific coast. Lyme disease is usually seen during the late spring, summer, and early fall.

There are three stages of Lyme disease.

• Stage 1 is called primary Lyme disease.
• Stage 2 is called secondary Lyme disease.
• Stage 3 is called tertiary Lyme disease.

Risk factors for Lyme disease include:

• Having a pet that may carry ticks home
• Doing activities that increase tick exposure (for example, gardening, hunting, or hiking)
• Walking in high grasses

Symptoms

Not everyone infected with these bacteria gets ill. If a person does become ill, the first symptoms resemble the flu and include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Lethargy
• Muscle pain

There may be a "bulls-eye" rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite. Often there is a clear area in the center. It can be larger than 1 - 3 inches wide.

Symptoms in people with the later stages of the disease include:

• Body-wide itching
• Joint inflammation
• Stiff neck
• Unusual or strange behavior

Note: Deer ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even saw a tick.