Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a disease caused by the bite of a tick. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Blacklegged (Deer) Tick. It is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. However, in Alabama, there are not many cases of Lyme disease due to Alabama being considered low-incidence. 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. In Alabama, cases happen more between March and October when ticks are active.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month: “Check for Ticks, Protect Your Health”

May is recognized as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about Lyme disease, a serious bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. In the United States, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It occurs most commonly in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest regions. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.

With the warmer weather, more people are spending time outdoors, increasing the risk of encountering disease-carrying ticks. Some prevention methods to avoid tick bites include:

• Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people are exposed to ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• Avoid contact with ticks. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.

One tick bite is all it takes to change a life. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more informaiton. 

Symptoms

Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings, and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Untreated Lyme disease can produce a wide range of symptoms, depending on the stage of infection.

Some early signs and symptoms, which occur within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite include:

• Erythema migrans (EM) rash
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

A few later signs and symptoms, which occur days to months after the tick bite include:

• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM rashes
• Facial palsy
• Arthritis
• Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• Nerve pain

Treatment

The goals of treatment for Lyme disease are to eliminate the infection, relieve symptoms, prevent the disease from progressing to more severe stages, and prevent complications. If you suspect you have been exposed to ticks or are experiencing symptoms consistent with the disease, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. The antibiotics most commonly used to treat Lyme disease include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil.

Prevention

Prevention begins with you! Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease. In persons exposed to tick-infested habitats, prompt, careful inspection, and removal of crawling or attached ticks is an important method of preventing disease.

Resources

CDC Information on Lyme Disease

CDC Lyme Disease Prevention Fact Sheet: English | Spanish | Brazilian Portuguese | Tagalog | Simplified Chinese

CDC Digital Press Kit: Understanding Lyme and Other Tick-borne Diseases

AMA Improving Care for Patients with Prolonged Symptoms and Concerns about Lyme Disease: A Clinician Toolkit