Lyme disease, an infectious illness named after the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, is caused by a bacterium that is passed to humans via a bite from mice or deer ticks.

 

It is being reported with increasing frequency throughout the United States, but especially the Northeast, due to a resurgence of the deer population therefore resulting in greater risk of exposure. Domestic animals such as dogs, cattle, and horses can also develop illness similar to humans.

 

Most infections occur in the summer, when tick exposure is high and ticks are active. Control of Lyme disease is best accomplished by avoiding tick-infested areas, wearing protective clothing, using repellents, and inspecting for ticks after possible exposure.

 

Ticks must usually feed for 48 hours before they can transmit infection. Hence, if you find a tick on the skin that would have recently attached, infection will be unlikely.

 

Because the tick is so small and the bite usually painless, it often goes unnoticed. It is important to remove and save the tick as soon as possible. This is best accomplished by grabbing the mouth-parts where it enters the skin with a fine-tipped tweezers, and rotating the tick until it releases.

 

Your physician is also available for the more difficult removals. Save the tick in alcohol for positive identification since the larger wood and dog ticks do not transmit Lyme disease.

 

The typical illness is divided into three stages:

With stage one, about 1 week after the bite (range 3-30 days), a characteristic rash develops. Often fever, chills, and muscle aches also develop, which mimics a flu-like illness. The rash resolves on its own in 3 to 4 weeks. If left untreated, chronic arthritis as well as other medical problems can develop, and rarely can result in permanent disability. Since influenza (“flu”) has essentially disappeared for the year, a flu-like illness should tip you off that you might be experiencing Lyme disease instead.

It is not recommended that a patient receive antibiotics after a tick bite in the absence of symptoms since the majority of bites (greater than 97%) do not result in infection. Your doctor can give you a description of what to be on the lookout for.

 

If the tick has been imbedded for >48-72 hours, there is also the option of a one-time dose of antibiotics as prevention against Lyme disease. If typical symptoms develop, treatment must be initiated with antibiotics as soon as possible. Treatment of early disease successfully prevents the late and severe manifestations of Lyme disease.

 

There is a no current vaccine to protect against Lyme disease. As always, avoiding contact with ticks is the best alternative.