Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that most often targets the skin, joints, brain and heart, although any part of the body can be affected.

Causes

The disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a species of bacteria usually transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. The Ixodes tick, also called the deer tick, usually carries the bacteria. The bacteria cannot be spread by dog or wood ticks. Deer ticks -- about the size of a poppy seed -- are smaller than dog or wood ticks and have different markings.

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 in the woodlands around Lyme, Conn.

Symptoms

Immediately after a bite from an infected tick, the body’s immune system may be able to eliminate the bacteria. If this does not happen, the bacteria may remain in the skin and not infect other parts of the body. In some cases, the bacteria spread through the blood to other organs and remain there for years without causing symptoms.

Lyme disease symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Three phases have been identified. The first phase occurs three to 30 days after the tick bite; phase two occurs weeks or months after the bite; and phase three occurs after about two years. Not everyone experiences these symptoms.

Symptoms of phase one

These occur in about half of people with infection:

• Red bump or round spot at site of tick bit; this is surrounded by ring of red or a bull's-eye rash; rash usually not painful or itchy

• Similar red bumps or spots at other sites in the body

• Flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, chills, joint and muscle aches, low-grade fever

Symptoms of phase two

These occur in about 20 percent of untreated infections:

• Poor coordination

• Facial paralysis

• Abnormal heart rhythm

• Skin sores

Symptoms of phase three

These occur in up to 60 percent of untreated infections:

• Recurring or chronic arthritis

• Chronic neurological problems

Treatment

Lyme disease can be treated and nearly always cured, especially in its early stages. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are sensitive to antibiotics such as tetracycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. People diagnosed with later stages of disease may have symptoms that continue or return after initial treatment. These patients may need a second course of treatment. If you notice or have had the bull's-eye rash, see your doctor right away.

Prevention

The best prevention is to avoid getting tick bites:

• Stay out of wooded, bushy areas that have high grass and leaf litter, especially in May, June and July.

• When in woods or fields, stay in the center of trails to avoid brushing against vegetation.

• When you may be in an area where ticks are present, apply insect repellent.  Adults should apply insect repellent containing 20 to 30 percent DEET (N-diethyl-m-toluamide) to their skin or outer clothing only (not underwear). DEET will only last a few hours before you need to reapply. Concentrations of 10 to 30 percent DEET are safe for children older than 2 months. Concentration higher than 30 percent are not recommended, especially for young children and those with sensitive skin. DEET should applied by adults only; avoid the child's hands, eyes and mouth. Talk to your child's health care provider, if you have questions about using insect repellents on your child.  For children younger than 2 months, consider using mosquito netting Place it over an infant carrier, for example. Permethrin insecticide kills ticks and can be applied to shoes and clothing. Don't use it on skin. It will provide protection for several days.

• Remove ticks from your clothes before going indoors. To kill ticks that you may have missed, wash your clothes with hot water and dry them using high heat for at least one hour.

• Perform a daily tick check on yourself, your children and your pets after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Look carefully over your entire body, including armpits, scalp and groin.

  Remove ticks immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. Wear latex gloves or wash your hands immediately after removing the tick. Do not squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick because its fluids may contain infectious organisms.

• Save any ticks you remove for identification in case you become ill. Place the tick in a sealed plastic bag and put it in your freezer. Write the date of the bite on a piece of paper and place it in the bag.

• If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting disease is extremely small. But just to be safe, monitor your health closely after a tick bite and be alert for any symptoms of disease.

• Create a safe zone around your home:

1. Remove any leaf litter and clear away tall grass and brush.

2. Place wood chips or gravel between your lawn and any wooded areas.

3. Mow the lawn frequently.

4. Don’t put out food to attract deer, which can carry the ticks.

5. Consider a single application of a pesticide that kills ticks at the end of May or beginning of June. Check with local health officials about the best time to apply it in your area, as well as any rules and regulations related to pesticide application on residential properties. Or contact a professional pesticide company to apply pesticides at your home.