Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by a bite from an infected tick. Infected ticks are of the Ixodes genus and are responsible for transmitting the Borrelia bacteria to humans. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and Europe.
The symptoms of Lyme disease vary depending on how much time has elapsed since the tick bite. Initial symptoms can occur 3 to 30 days after the tick bite and include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. In most cases, one develops a distinct, “bull’s-eye” rash known as erythema migrans at the site of the tick bite.
If left untreated, Lyme disease will begin to affect the body’s central and peripheral nervous systems as well as the immune system. The symptoms of Lyme disease will worsen. Worsening symptoms can appear weeks to months after the tick bite and include the following:
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by the Borrelia genus of bacteria. The Borrelia genus includes the Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii species of bacteria. The Ixodes genus of ticks are responsible for transmitting these bacteria to humans. The Ixodes genus of ticks are more commonly known as black-legged ticks, deer ticks, castor bean ticks, wood ticks, and taiga ticks. These ticks are native to North America and Europe.
One’s likelihood for developing Lyme disease is dependent on one’s exposure to the Ixodes ticks. Ixodes ticks are native to North America and Europe. They are most active in early spring to late fall, and they can be found in wooded, brushy areas such as forests, pastures, and parks.
In most cases of Lyme disease, the person does not know they were bitten by a tick. This makes diagnosis difficult. The diagnosis for Lyme disease consists of four steps:
Lyme disease is typically treated with a two, three, or four-week regimen of antibiotics. The antibiotics of choice are doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime. Although most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics, symptoms can sometimes persist for more than six months after treatment.
The best method for preventing Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites. Before going out in areas where ticks are prevalent, use appropriate insect repellents and apply 0.5% permethrin to one’s clothing. If one has been exposed to woody or brushy areas where ticks may live, it’s important to check one’s body, clothes, and pets for ticks afterwards.