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Lyme Disease -
Fact Sheet

What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is
an illness caused by the bacterium, Borrelia
burgdorferi.

How is Lyme disease spread?
The
bacteria are spread by the bite of infected Ixodes
scapularis (black-legged) ticks. In Connecticut, these
ticks are also commonly known as deer ticks. When in its
nymphal stage, the tick is about the size of a poppy seed or
the period at the end of this sentence. Not all deer ticks are
infected.

Who gets Lyme disease?
Anyone can get
Lyme disease; however, it is more prevalent in children <
10 years old.

What are the symptoms of Lyme
disease?
Early Lyme disease symptoms include an
expanding red rash that may appear around the area of the tick
bite. The rash can resemble a bull’s eye with a clearing
center and distinct ring around it. Other early symptoms may
include flu-like symptoms: fatigue, headache, fever, and achy
muscles and joints. Later symptoms may include arthritis,
neurologic problems, and heart problems.

How soon do symptoms appear?
The early
symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within the first month
after the tick bite. Later symptoms can occur several weeks to
several months later.

How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
Lyme
disease may be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can
mimic many other disorders. Blood tests can be helpful in the
diagnosis of Lyme disease but should not be used exclusively.
Physicians will consider symptoms, history of tick bite, and
the possibility of coming in contact with ticks to help in the
diagnosis. If Lyme disease is suspected as the cause of
illness, it is important that medical attention be sought.

What is the treatment for Lyme
disease?
Lyme disease is easily treated when
detected in the early stages. Treatment with oral antibiotics,
such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, taken for a few weeks are
often effective. Intravenous antibiotic treatment may be
necessary for patients with late symptoms of Lyme disease.

How can Lyme disease be prevented?
To
prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, the best
protection is to avoid contact with ticks. When working or
playing outside in areas that ticks inhabit (tall grass and
weeds, woods, and leaf litter) you should:

Wear light colored clothing (to spot the ticks easily),
long sleeved shirts and long pants.

Create a “tick barrier” by tucking pants into socks and
shirt into pants.

Consider using insect repellent, according to
manufacturer’s instructions, when planning to be outdoors.

Check clothing and skin very carefully after being
outdoors in tick infested areas.

Remove any ticks as soon as possible after they are
discovered.

Keep your lawn mowed, cut overgrown brush, and clear any
leaf litter away from the home.

Use a wood chip barrier between any wooded area and the
yard.

Inspect pets daily and remove any ticks found.

How should a tick be removed?

It is important that a tick is removed as soon as it is
discovered using tweezers. Grasp the tick mouth parts
as close to the skin as possible and pull the tick out with
steady pressure. Do not yank the tick out. Do not crush the
ticks body with the tweezers as it may contain
infectious fluids.

Do not use petroleum jelly, hot matches, nail polish
remover, or any other substance to remove a tick. By using
these substances, you may actually increase your chance of
infection.

Thoroughly wash the area of the bite with soap and water
and put an antiseptic on it.

The sooner the tick is removed, the lesser the risk of
tick-borne infection. Research has found that infected ticks
need to feed for 24-36 hours before transmission occurs.

Write on the calendar the date you removed the tick and
the part of the body it was removed from. Check this area
daily for 30 days.

Contact your physician if you believe you are
experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease for recommendations on
testing and treatment.

This fact sheet is for
informational purposes only. It should not be used for
self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a
health care provider. If you think that you may have this
infection, or have questions about the disease described
above, you should consult your health care provider.

For additional information on this disease, visit
the Centers
or Disease Control and Prevention
website.

Content Last Modified on 6/2/2008
8:43:31 AM

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