Lyme disease is an infection you can get after being bitten by
a tick.
What causes it?
The bacterium (germ), Borrelia burgdorferi, causes Lyme
disease.
It is carried by the black-legged tick (deer tick) and the
western black-legged tick.
The tick is the size of a pencil point.
The tick releases the germs into your bloodstream.
The germs travel through your blood and stop in various places
in your body.
They can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are
severe.
Who can get it? Lyme disease is most commonly found in three areas of the United
States:
Northeast
Upper Midwest
Pacific Northwest
You may be at higher risk if you:
Live in one of the three high risk areas of the United
States
Live or work in the forest or other wooded areas
Spend a lot of time in the yard or grass
Spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities such as hiking,
camping, fishing, and hunting
Work in jobs like landscaping, brush clearing, forestry, and
wildlife industries
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common sign is a red-ringed rash (erythema migrans)
around the tick bite.
The rash looks like a bullís-eye or a target.
The rash usually appears 1 to 2 weeks after the tick
bite.
Other common symptoms are tiredness, fever, chills, headache,
stiff neck, and joint pain.
Also, there can be arthritis, and loss of feeling in the arms,
legs, or feet.
Death is very, very rare.
Is it contagious?
No, you cannot get Lyme disease from another person.
You can only get it from getting bit by an infected tick.
How is it diagnosed?
Sometimes your health history and a physical examination are
all that is needed.
There are some blood tests that may help too.
How is it treated?
It is treated with antibiotics (medicine) by mouth.
Some people may need medicine by a shot.
Treatment usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
If not treated, symptoms can occur months or years later.
Can it be prevented?
When you or your child are in an area that could have
ticks:
Wear light colored clothing. It makes it easier to see if any
ticks are on you.
Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
Tuck your pant legs into your boots or under your socks.
Keep long hair pulled back.
Wear a hat.
Try not to sit on the ground.
Check often for ticks on you and your child.
The Lyme vaccine (shot) is not available anymore.
When should I call the doctor?
Call your doctor if your child was bitten by a tick and has a
red-ringed bullís-eye rash around the area.
Call your doctor if she has a fever, chills, headache, stiff
neck, or joint pain.
Call your doctor if you have any questions about your
childís condition.
Quick Answers
Lyme disease is an infection you can get after being bitten by
a tick.
Lyme disease is most often found in the Northeast, Upper
Midwest, and Pacific Northwest.
You can only get Lyme disease by being bitten by an infected
tick. You cannot get it from another person.
The most common sign is a red-ringed rash (erythema migrans)
around the site of the tick bite.
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.
Call your doctor if your child has the red-ringed rash, or has
other symptoms such as a fever, chills, headache, stiff neck or
joint pain.
To help prevent it, wear long-sleeved clothing and a hat when
you or your child are outdoors in areas where ticks could
live.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Report of the Comm. on
Infectious Diseases. Lyme Disease. p. 334-39.
American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. Lyme Disease. (cited
2002 September 4). URL: http://www.aldf.com/Lyme.asp
http://www.aldf.com/Lyme.asp
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. 2001
September 21. (cited 2002 September 4). URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
KidsHealth for Parents. Lyme Disease. 2001 September. (cited
2002 September 4). URL:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/lyme.html
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