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 few cases of Lyme disease because the state is considered a low-incidence state. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, promptly removing ticks, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. In Alabama, cases occur more often 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 by 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, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Upper Midwest. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to the joints, heart, and 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 remains 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 the 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 information.
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 progression 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 are important methods 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
Page last updated: August 26, 2026
