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| Lyme
disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia
burgdorferi and is transmitted to
humans by the bite of infected blacklegged
ticks. Typical symptoms include
fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic
skin rash called erythema
migrans. If left untreated, infection
can spread to joints, the heart, and the
nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based
on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash),
and the possibility of exposure to infected
ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in
the later stages of disease. Most cases
of Lyme disease can be treated successfully
with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps
to prevent Lyme
disease include using insect repellent,
removing ticks promptly, landscaping, and
integrated pest management. The ticks that
transmit Lyme disease can occasionally
transmit other
tick-borne diseases as well. |
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