Lyme Disease
What is Lyme Disease ?
Lyme disease is an illness caused by Borrelia bacteria. Humans usually get Lyme disease from the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria.
Ticks that can carry Borrelia bacteria live throughout most of the United States. But Lyme disease is most common in the upper Midwest and the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. It’s also common in Europe and South Central and southeastern Canada. You’re at risk of Lyme disease if you spend time where the ticks live, such as grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Taking safety measures in these areas can lower the risk of Lyme disease.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Joint stiffness
- Muscle aches and pains
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Many rashes on other parts of the body
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Muscle weakness
- Irregular heartbeats
- Pain, numbness or weakness
- Painful swelling in tissues of the eye or eyelid
Cause
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria. In North America, the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick, mainly carries the bacteria. In Europe, a different species of Borrelia causes Lyme disease. Ticks carry the bacteria. A few names, including castor bean tick, sheep tick, or deer tick known as these ticks. Ticks feed on blood by attaching to a host’s skin. The tick feeds until it’s swollen many times its typical size. Deer ticks can feed on a host’s blood for several days. Ticks pick up bacteria from a host, such as a deer or rodent. They don’t get sick. But they can pass the bacteria to another host. When an infected tick feeds on a person, the bacteria can move to the person’s bloodstream. The bacteria are less likely to spread Lyme disease if you remove the tick within 24 hours. Both young and adult ticks can carry the disease. Young ticks are tiny and hard to spot. You may not notice if a young tick bites you.
Risk Factors
Your risk for getting Lyme disease depends on if you spend time where they are likely to live. This includes the Region, Deer ticks that carry Lyme disease are widespread. They are mostly found in the upper Midwest, the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, and in south central and southeastern Canada. The castor bean tick is found throughout Europe. Habitat, Ticks live in wooded, shrubby or grassy areas. Time of year, The risk of infection is greater in the spring, summer and fall. But ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing.
When to see a Doctor
Most people who get Lyme disease don’t remember having a tick bite. And many symptoms of Lyme disease relate to other conditions. See your health care provider if you have Lyme disease symptoms. An early diagnosis and proper treatment can improve outcomes. If you know you had a tick bite or might have been around ticks, watch for symptoms. If they show up, see your care provider as soon as possible.