Lyme disease hasn’t gone away

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be contracted from the blacklegged or deer tick. Deer ticks resemble small dog ticks. This disease occurs in both North America and Europe, although different species of deer ticks are often responsible for spreading it.

The symptoms of Lyme disease look different in each person. However, they can commonly include a bull’s-eye rash spreading from the bite site and flu-like symptoms. Later cases of Lyme disease may also display musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiac, arthritic, and mental symptoms. People who develop late-stage Lyme disease may develop disabilities, and the longer the disease is allowed to progress, the more difficult it becomes to treat. However, in the early stages, Lyme disease can usually be defeated with antibiotics. Some symptoms may continue after treatment, possibly as a form of autoimmune response, as the disease has been eliminated.

Lyme disease was first reported in the late 1880s in Germany and formally documented in 1909. Penicillin began to be used as a treatment for the disease in the late 1940s. Lyme originates from Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut towns where it was observed in 1975. In rare cases, mothers can pass Lyme disease to their fetuses during pregnancy. This tends to result in a stillbirth. There have also been some reports that the disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of insects such as flies. Anecdotal reports claim that it can be transmitted sexually, but so far there have been no documented cases of Lyme disease being transmitted in this way.

Deforestation is one reason for the increase in Lyme disease infections in humans. Suburban expansion has brought more contact between humans and areas that are home to many ticks, and has eliminated many of the most common harbor predators for those ticks (deer, chipmunks, etc.). This means that the population of animals that can withstand Lyme disease by carrying ticks is higher than ever, and humans are at greater risk.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. It is one of the fastest growing infectious conditions. Prevention of infection can be done by avoiding areas where ticks are found. Wear full body clothing when entering such an area and then carefully check the body for ticks. If you suspect you may have Lyme disease, see a doctor right away for treatment.