When is lyme disease most prevalent

Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings e. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Lyme Disease. Section Navigation. Testing is generally done to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. This may need blood and other lab tests. The symptoms of Lyme disease may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Lyme disease affects people differently. Relapse and incomplete treatment responses happen.

Complications of untreated early-stage disease include:. People aren't able to become immune to Lyme disease. So even if you've had Lyme disease, you can get it again. No vaccine is available currently to prevent the disease. The FDA still recommended preventing the disease in other ways. In , the company that made LYMErix said it would no longer offer the vaccine.

Other areas where ticks are commonly found: belly button, neck, hairline, top of the head, and in and behind the ears. Products that have DEET repel ticks, but they don't kill them. Infections predominantly occur in the Northeast and north-central portions of the United States Figure The Pacific Northwest states also have a moderate number of Lyme disease cases, but this region in not considered by the CDC to be endemic for the dis- ease.

The geographic restriction of the disease is the result of the ecologic niche required for the vectors, the Black-legged tick Ixodes scapularis and the Western Black-legged tick Ixodes pacificus. Figure Distribution of reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease was first recognized in after a cluster of arthritis cases occurred in children living near Lyme, Connecticut.

Borrelia burgdorferi was subsequently determined to be the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. Ticks that become infected with B burgdorferi acquire the spirochete through feeding on sylvatic animals such as white-footed mice and white-tailed deer, which are the principal reservoirs for the Borrelia spp.

Epizootic transmission occurs when ticks subsequently transmit the infec- tion to humans while feeding. Lyme disease can be divided into 3 temporally based stages. The common manifesta- tions of early first stage Lyme disease include a characteristic rash, erythema migrans, which is identified as a spreading erythematous rash with or without central clearing Figure On average, the skin lesion lasts approximately 3 weeks.

The rash is often accompanied by fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, arthralgia, and stiff neck. This usually means that a nurse or doctor has looked at and identified the tick. The tick is thought to have been attached to the person for at least 36 hours. The person is able to start taking the antibiotic within 72 hours of removing the tick. The person is 8 years or older and is not pregnant or breastfeeding. A day to 4-week course of antibiotics is used to treat people who are diagnosed with Lyme disease, depending on the choice of drug: The choice of antibiotic depends on the stage of the disease and the symptoms.

Common choices include doxycycline, amoxicillin, azithromycin, cefuroxime, and ceftriaxone. Outlook Prognosis. Possible Complications. Brain and nervous system problems are also possible, and may include: Decreased concentration Memory disorders Nerve damage Numbness Pain Paralysis of the face muscles Sleep disorders Vision problems. When to Contact a Medical Professional.

Call your provider if you have: A large, red, expanding rash that may look like a bull's eye. Had a tick bite and develop weakness, numbness, tingling, or heart problems. Symptoms of Lyme disease, especially if you may have been exposed to ticks. If you do walk or hike in these areas, take measures to prevent tick bites: Wear light-colored clothing so that if ticks land on you, they can be spotted and removed.

Wear long sleeves and long pants with pant legs tucked into your socks. Spray exposed skin and your clothing with insect repellant , such as DEET or permethrin. Follow instructions on the container. After returning home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas, including your scalp. Shower as soon as possible to wash off any unseen ticks.

If a tick is attached to you, follow these steps to remove it : Grasp the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers. DO NOT use your bare fingers. If needed, use a tissue or paper towel. Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.

Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your hands thoroughly.