Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by infection with a spiral-shaped bacterium (spirochete), Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection occurs as a result of a bite of the deer tick carrying the spirochete. Recent studies indicate that the tiny infected tick, no bigger than a poppy seed, must attach to a person’s skin for at least two days to transmit the Lyme bacterium.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

The disease can be reliably diagnosed if a rash - known as a bull’s eye rash because of a red ring around a clear area with a red center - appears at the site of the tick bite. Unfortunately, this rash (Erythema migrans) develops in less than 50% of Lyme disease patients. A rash of a different form is just as likely to occur as the bull’s eye rash.
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, stiff neck, other body aches and fatigue accompany the rash. Untreated, the spirochete may spread to other organs causing heart problems, neurological symptoms and, most commonly, painful and swollen joints.

Diagnosis is a challenge to physicians because the symptoms of Lyme’s disease resembles those of many other disorders such as a common viral flu infection, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, to name a few.

Blood tests (ELISA and Western Blot) to detect antibodies to the spirochetes have been developed but false negative results occur in about 30% of patients.

Treatment

An uncomplicated case of Lyme disease requires an average of 6-12 months of high dose antibiotics. Return of symptoms and evidence of the continued presence of the spirochete indicates the need for further treatment.

Many patients need 1-4 years of treatment, or until the patient is symptom free. Relapses occur which requires maintenance antibiotics. 
No tests are available to show that the organism is completely eradicated or the patient is cured.

Prevention

Deer ticks are most often found in wooded areas and nearby shady grasslands. Because adult ticks feed on deer (deer mice also are carriers in the course of the tick’s life cycle), areas where deer are numerous are likely to harbor large numbers of deer ticks. Read about  Deer Management.

Tips for Prevention

• Avoid tick-infested areas especially in May, June, and July.
• Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be easily seen.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed shoes.
• Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and tuck shirt into pants.
• Apply insect repellent to pants, socks, and shoes: apply compounds containing DEET on exposed skin. Do not overuse these products.
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid overgrown grass & brush.
• After being in a tick-infested area, remove and wash clothing.
• Inspect the body thoroughly and remove carefully any attached ticks (tug gently but firmly with tweezers; don’t crush the tick or handle with bare fingers; swab with antiseptic).
• Check pets for ticks - animals can develop Lyme disease.