What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in the United States, and it occurs frequently in Canada, Europe, and Asia. People are infected when bitten by ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.  Once bitten, an individual may develop the disease within a few days or weeks.

The two types of ticks that carry Lyme disease in the United States are deer ticks, common in the northeastern and upper Midwestern U.S., and the western black-legged ticks, located along the Pacific coast.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease becomes progressively worse and may cause long-term disability if left untreated. The three stages of Lyme disease are early localized, early disseminated, and late persistent.

Stage 1 - Early localized infection develops one to four weeks after being infected with the bacteria. During this stage, up to 80% of patients develop an expanding, circular red rash. The rash is a sure sign of lime disease for individuals who live in areas where Lyme disease most often occurs-in along the U.S. Atlantic coast, Midwest, and parts of Oregon and California.

In up to 50% of people who have Lyme disease, the expanding circular rash is accompanied by flu-like symptoms including fatigue; headache; stiff neck; fever and chills; muscle and joint pain; and swollen lymph nodes.

As many as 25% of those infected have only flu-like symptoms (without rash) or have no symptoms at all.

Stage 2 - Early disseminated infection occurs if an individual's Lyme disease is not detected and treated early. The second stage begins one to four months after infection, and during this period, the illness spreads to the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart. Symptoms at this stage may include: persistent fatigue; skin rashes in several places; pain; weakness or numbness in the arms or legs; inability to control the muscles of the face; recurring headaches; fainting; poor memory; reduced ability to concentrate; conjunctivitis (pinkeye); damage to eye tissue; rapid heartbeats; or, in rare cases, serious heart problems.

 
Stage 3 - Late persistent infections occurs when Lyme disease is not promptly or effectively treated. Damage to the joints, nerves, and brain may develop months or years after infection. Symptoms at this third stage may include: swelling and pain in the joints; numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, or back; severe fatigue; partial facial nerve paralysis; neurologic changes (problems with memory, mood, sleep or speech); and chronic Lyme arthritis (recurring episodes of swelling, redness, and fluid buildup in one or more joints.)

Though animals do not infect humans, they can carry ticks. Animals may develop symptoms similar to those seen in people, including fever and swollen joints. A vaccine for dogs is available in some states.

Who is most likely to be affected by Lyme disease?

Individuals most at risk for Lyme disease are those who live in areas with deer ticks and black-legged ticks and who spend time outdoors during the warm months of the year (when ticks are most active.) The majority of cases occur in the northeastern U.S. when infected ticks are most prevalent-usually between May and November, with peak activity in June and July.

Working or playing in grassy or wooded areas or having pets will increase exposure to ticks. Mice also bring ticks in stone fences (where mice build homes) and around bird feeders (where mice eat spilled seed.)

Not all ticks are infected with Lyme disease, and those that are usually cannot transmit the infection until they are connected at least 36 to 48 hours.

How is Lyme disease treated?

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin. Antibiotic treatment for early Lyme disease is effective, and symptoms usually go away within three weeks of treatment.

The earlier antibiotic treatment is started after infection, the quicker and better the recovery. If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated until later problems arise, recovery may take longer and the patient may require additional treatment.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, are usually helpful for arthritislike symptoms associated with late Lyme disease.

In the past, medications were used to try to prevent Lyme disease. A vaccine was developed for use high-risk areas, but it was removed from the market due to uncertainty about effectiveness and lack of demand.

How can I protect myself from Lyme disease?

If you visit or live in an area where Lyme disease frequently occurs, you can keep prevent infection by avoiding tick bites and quickly removing ticks from your body and clothing, should one attach itself to you.

Removing ticks quickly is especially important for pregnant and nursing women because experts are not sure about the effect of Lyme disease on fetuses. 

If you or someone in your family has been bitten by a tick, watch carefully for flulike symptoms and a circular red rash, and contact your doctor right away if symptoms appear.

If you find a tick attached to your body and suspect it has been there longer than 24 hours, ask your doctor about whether a dose of doxycycline or amoxcillin could help prevent the disease from developing.

For more information about Lyme disease, talk to your doctor or check out WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/hw/arthritis/aa10154.asp?pagenumber=2