Preventing Lyme Disease

Tick Pix
Deer tick The spring and summer months are upon us, and that means tick season in the Northern and Eastern regions of the country.

Black-legged ticks (deer ticks) and Western black-legged ticks are primarily responsible for transmitting Lyme disease, which, if left unchecked, can lead to serious health problems.

What is Lyme disease, and what can you do to prevent it?

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness, which means that a tick feeds upon an infected mammal's blood, and then passes along the disease-causing bacterium to its next source of food, which is sometimes a person.

You often can't tell when a tick has bitten you, as deer ticks in the baby or "nymph" stage can be as small as the period at the end of this sentence. Adult deer ticks are less than 1/10 of an inch, or about the size of a small apple seed. Ticks can be difficult to spot on dark clothing because the males are black, and the females are dark red and black.

Do you need help in tick identification? View deer ticks throughout various stages of development. You can even watch movies of them in action! (Requires QuickTime. Download now.)
See more pictures of deer ticks.
Ticks that have been feeding can grow to about three times their normal size. Look at ticks in various stages of engorgement.

The History of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 after many children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Lyme, Connecticut. But recent DNA testing of tissue samples taken from a white-footed mouse in 1894 show Lyme disease has probably existed in the United States for some time. At the turn of the century, Lyme disease symptoms were being described in medical literature in Europe. It's possible that the disease spread from Europe to the United States during this time.

Telltale Symptoms
A tick must be attached to a person for two days for the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to be passed on, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Once the bacteria enters the bloodstream, victims may experience neck stiffness, chills, headaches, achiness, and fatigue. Most people are cured if Lyme disease is caught in this early stage and treated with antibiotics.

Doggone It!

How can you tell if your dog has Lyme disease? The most common symptoms are fever, lameness, joint swelling, lethargy, and lack of appetite. Just like humans, dogs can be treated with antibiotics and vaccines. Ask your vet about dog collars, powders, and drops that can keep dogs tick-free.

Learn more about how to protect your pets from Lyme disease.

One of the classic signs of infection is a bull's-eye rash that appears at the bite site within a week to a month after the bite. The circular rash can expand to more than 3 inches in diameter. It is important to note that not everyone gets this rash, and it may look like a bruise on those with dark skin.

Take a look at some classic rashes.

If Lyme disease is not stopped early on, it can spread through the bloodstream within a few days and infect organs and the central nervous system.

The longer it takes a patient to start taking antibiotics, the more time the bacterium has to divide and enter cells.

As Lyme disease progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to fight, leading to chronic health problems such as arthritis, neurological disorders, and heart abnormalities. Lyme disease has been called the "great imitator" because its symptoms mimic those of multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and Alzheimer's.

Lyme disease is just one of the causes of heart disorders. Investigate heart disorders with different symptoms using the Biology Explorer activity: Cardiac Disorder. (Requires Logal Express. Get a free trial subscription now.)

Disease Prevention
About 15,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported annually in the United States. To avoid getting the disease, be cautious when passing through tick habitats such as tall grasses and woods. Be especially wary of areas where whitetail deer live, as deer ticks typically feed and mate on these animals.

Tick Tips

Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants if you're going to be walking through tick territory.
Use insect repellent containing no more than 10% DEET, a chemical that repels bugs. Recommended for older family members.
Tuck pant legs into socks or boots.
Inspect yourself for ticks when you're back inside. Their favorite hiding places include the scalp and ankles.
Do not try to pry a tick from your skin by using an irritating agent such as nail polish or a hot match. Ticks should always be removed with fine-point tweezers. Disinfect the bite area with alcohol.

View a map that shows the geographical breakdown of the 15,041 cases of Lyme disease reported in America in 1998.

Where are most of the cases located? Why is the disease more prevalent in certain parts of the country?
Using the information presented in the map, what percentage of cases was found in California? Connecticut? Massachusetts?

In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine Lymerix to help prevent Lyme disease. The vaccine is administered in a three-dose schedule over the course of a year. So far, studies show that the vaccine has proved to be effective in about 75% of recipients.

More Links

Read the Boston Globe story, "Ticked Off," to learn about the debate over how best to treat Lyme disease.

Related Resources

Coping With Lyme Disease: A Practical Guide to Dealing With Diagnosis and Treatment by Denise Lang, Denise V. Lant, and Joseph Territo M. D. (Contributor), is considered a bible for those suffering from Lyme disease. The authors present the latest findings and explore the role diet and nutrition play in fighting the disease.
Another good reference is Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Disorders, written by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner, the founder of the Lyme Disease Foundation.
Ticks: And What You Can Do About Them by Roger Drummond covers everything you need to know about ticks and how to avoid contracting diseases from them.