What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is named after a town in Connecticut where a number of people first experienced symptoms caused by a certain bacteria transmitted by way of deer ticks. The condition is most prevalent during the warm weather months in the eastern United States, particularly the mid-Atlantic and New England regions and areas that are heavily wooded.
When a tick bites a human, the tick may or may not transmit disease. Usually the tick must latch on or be embedded in the skin for more than 36 hours in order for the person to contract Lyme disease. Once the tick is removed, the tick bite itself looks like a small red bump. A person may or may not have any symptoms for a few days or even as much as 30 days later.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
One of the most obvious signs of Lyme disease is a rash that may start to look like a bulls-eye, with a red blotch in the middle, then a white ring then a red ring.
Other symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Facial palsy (one side droops)
- Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache
- Severe joint pain or swelling, especially in the knees and large joints
- Swollen lymph nodes