Overview
Definition
Lyme disease is caused when an infected deer tick transmits bacteria through its bite. Lyme disease is carried by deer and some small animals, such as rodents. Known as Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream and invade body tissues.
People usually get Lyme disease in late spring and early summer when they are outside more often. But they can also get the disease in the fall. In spring, a tick is in the nymph stage, which is considerably smaller than an adult tick and harder to spot. Because the nymphs are so tiny, you may be bitten without ever knowing it. Usually, the tick needs to be attached at least 36 hours to transmit the bacteria.
Lyme disease was first diagnosed in 1975 when a cluster of children in Lyme, Conn., developed an unusual form of arthritis. More than 180,000 cases have been reported to health authorities in the United States since 1982, when a national surveillance system started.
Most cases of Lyme disease occur in Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Children ages 5 to 14 and adults 40 and older have the highest incidence rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The large number of ticks and increased incidence of Lyme disease is probably due to the overpopulation of deer in the Northeast and their proximity to humans.
Prognosis
Lyme disease is curable, particularly if caught in the first few weeks. If it advances too far with no treatment or with ineffective treatment, the disease can cause neurologic, cardiac and arthritic symptoms.
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In the Encyclopedia:
Lyme disease
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