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