Health Messages
Lyme Disease
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted by infected ticks. It was first recognized in the United States in 1975 after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis. Since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health problem.
How does a person get Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick. Not all ticks carry the bacteria and a bite does not always result in the development of Lyme disease. However, since it is impossible to tell by sight which ticks are infected, it is important to avoid tick bites whenever possible. Immature deer ticks can be very small, about the size of the head of a pin; adult deer ticks are slightly larger. Both can be infected with and transmit Lyme disease. Deer ticks acquire the bacteria by feeding primarily on small mammals infected with the bacteria. Deer ticks infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease have been found in Illinois.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Signs and symptoms can vary greatly from one person to another. Symptoms also vary with the length of time a person has been infected. An ring-like rash occurs in about 70-80% of cases and begins three days to 32 days after the bite of an infected tick. The red rash at the bite site is circular and grows larger over a few days or few weeks. In the center, the rash usually clears and has been described as resembling a bull’s-eye. Often this rash is accompanied by one or more nonspecific symptoms: fatigue, chills and fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and joint and muscle pain. Some people are not diagnosed with Lyme disease in its initial stages because early symptoms are similar to those of more common diseases, such as a flu-like illness. Days, weeks, months, or years later other symptoms can develop if the disease is not diagnosed and treated. These include fever, severe headache and stiff neck, pain with numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, loss of concentration or memory problems, and Lyme arthritis.
Can Lyme disease be treated?
Yes, treatment of Lyme disease consists of administration of the appropriate antibiotics. Oral antibiotics are usually used; however, intravenous antibiotics may be used if the disease has gone untreated or is difficult to control.
How do I avoid getting bitten by a tick?
The best way to protect yourself against Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites. However, if you live in or visit wooded areas or areas with tall grass and weeds, follow these precautions against Lyme disease:
- Wear light-colored, protective clothing – long sleeved shirts, long pants, boots or shoes, and head covering.
- Apply insect repellent – containing 10-30% DEET primarily to clothes.
- Walk in the center of trails – so weeds do not brush against you.
- Check for ticks – check yourself, children, and other family members every two to three hours.
- Remove any tick promptly – Do not burn the tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly. Do not use bare hands. The best way to remove a tick is to pull it straight out with tweezers.
- Wash the bite area and your hands – wash thoroughly with soap and water, and apply antiseptic to bite area.
Additional Resources
Illinois Department of Public Health
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
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