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Understanding Lyme Disease -- the Basics
What Is Lyme Disease?
First identified in a group of children in Lyme, Connecticut, Lyme disease has now been found in nearly all states and 18 other countries. Most cases -- more than 90% -- are reported in three regions of the U.S.:
- Northeast, from Massachusetts to Maryland
- North Central States, mostly in Minnesota and Wisconsin
- West Coast, particularly Northern California
Because the symptoms are random and vague (aside from a bull's-eye rash), Lyme disease can be hard to diagnose. Unfortunately, unless Lyme disease is treated promptly, it can also be difficult to cure. For these reasons, people living in high-risk areas can have considerable anxiety about Lyme disease, and doctors tend to over-diagnose and over-treat it.
Understanding Lyme Disease -- Symptoms
The first sign of Lyme disease is usually a bull's-eye rash that begins from 3 to 30 days after the bite. This circular rash expands to several inches in diameter before disappearing after a few weeks. Be aware, however, that there's not always a rash, or the rash may look different than a bull's-eye shape. Other early symptoms -- with or without the rash -- are flu-like feelings of fatigue, headache, fever, sore throat, chills, or body aches. You may also have vague pains in the joints,...
Read the Understanding Lyme Disease -- Symptoms article > >
What Causes Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of the tiny black-legged, or deer, tick found in the Eastern and Central U.S. and the western black-legged tick in the Pacific West. The riskiest months for Lyme disease are from May through September, when young ticks are likely to be biting.
In humans, the bacteria may cause flu-like symptoms. It invades many tissues -- including the heart and nervous system -- and triggers an immune response that leads to Lyme arthritis.
WebMD Medical Reference
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