Lyme disease is caused by a kind of bacteria called a spirochete (say: "spy-ro-keet")and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Lyme disease can be found all over the United States, but it is most common along the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific Northwest. 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 early stage Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Treatment for later stages is more difficult often requiring extended and repeated courses of antibiotic therapy. 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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