| Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease | | | | symptoms ranging from rash and flu-like fever |
| spread through a tick bite. Lyme disease is | | | | and body aches to more serious ones including |
| an infection caused by bacteria spirochete. | | | | joint swelling, weakness, fatigue and |
| The disease is carried by deer ticks and | | | | temporary paralysis. Other symptoms of lyme |
| western black-legged ticks (found mostly on | | | | disease include chills, headaches, stiff |
| the Pacific Coast). These ticks can spread | | | | neck, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain. |
| the disease to animals and humans through | | | | Protective clothing includes long-sleeve |
| tick bites. Lyme disease is the most common | | | | shirts and pants that are tucked into socks |
| tick-borne disease in the United States. Lyme | | | | or boots. |
| disease is caused by an infection from a | | | | |
| micro-organism (Borrelia burghdor feri), | | | | Anti-inflammatory medications, such as |
| itself transmitted by a bite from the wood | | | | ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed to |
| tick, a blood-sucking parasite which normally | | | | relieve joint stiffness. Oral doxycycline (eg |
| lives on deer. The wood tick is found in many | | | | Vibramycin) (except in children), amoxicillin |
| areas, particularly in forests where deer are | | | | (eg Amoxil) or cephalosporin antibiotics are |
| common. A tick will settle anywhere on a | | | | the usual first choices. Antibiotics by |
| human body, but prefers warm, moist and dark | | | | injection are being given, then |
| places like the crotch or armpits. | | | | benzylpenicillin (eg Crystapen), cefotaxime |
| | | | (Claforan) and ceftriaxone (Rocephin) are the |
| About 60% of light-skinned patients notice a | | | | usual choices. An arthrocentesis is a |
| unique enlarging rash, referred to as | | | | procedure whereby fluid is removed from a |
| erythema migrans (EM), days to weeks after | | | | joint using a needle and syringe under |
| the biteLyme disease is usually seen during | | | | sterile conditions. When walking or hiking in |
| the late spring, summer, and early fall. Risk | | | | wooded or grassy areas, tuck long pants into |
| factors for Lyme disease include walking in | | | | socks to protect the legs, and wear shoes and |
| high grasses, taking place in activities that | | | | light-colored, long-sleeved shirts. Ticks |
| increase tick exposure, and having a pet that | | | | show up better on white or light |
| may carry ticks home. Lyme disease is a | | | | colored-clothing than dark items. Spray your |
| tick-borne illness that causes signs and | | | | clothes with insect repellant. |