- Three to 32 days after a bite from an infected tick 70 to 80 percent of individuals infected with Lyme disease develop a "bull's-eye rash" (pictured above). This rash typically is painless but may spread and additional spots sometimes develop. Flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, joint pain and headache occur before or just after the development of the rash. If untreated, up to 60 percent of those infected will develop some form of recurrent arthritis.
- If the bull's-eye rash is present in a patient, Lyme disease is often the first illness considered. Many patients, however, do not have a noticeable rash and some cannot recall being bitten by a tick. In the absence of a rash a number of illnesses may be considered prior to testing for Lyme disease. A diagnosis of Lyme disease is reached only after confirmatory lab tests indicate the presence of antibodies to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
- Over 90 percent of Lyme disease cases come from just 10 states--Wisconsin, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania. Of the reported cases of Lyme disease, more than half occur in June or July. The Centers for Disease Control indicates that there has been a significant increase in Lyme disease cases over the past 2 decades, making the illness the most common vector borne disease in the U.S.
- The best defense against Lyme disease is the prevention of tick bites. The risk of tick bites can be reduced by using an insect repellent with DEET, avoiding wooded areas, applying the repellent permethrin to clothing and covering all skin below the neck with clothing. Clothing and skin should be thoroughly searched for the presence of ticks. If a bite does occur, the chance of contracting Lyme disease is reduced by removing the tick within 24 hours of the bite.
- If Lyme disease is diagnosed early it is considered treatable. Standard treatment is a few weeks of one of several oral antibiotics. Patients with other forms of serious illness, such as those with cardiac conditions, may instead receive intravenous antibiotics. The outlook for recovery is excellent for individuals treated in the early stages of the disease. If the illness is caught later, there is no longer an effective treatment option and symptom management becomes the primary treatment focus.
