Is it Just the Flu, or is it Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an illness that a person can get when they are bitten by an infected tick. It is a problem that is affecting more and more people in the United States. It has been reported in every state, but of all the states, there are ten where Lyme disease is reported the most. Those states are New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. At least 90 percent of all cases of Lyme disease that are reported originate from these states.

It is important to know that not all ticks are infected with Lyme disease. It is most commonly spread through the deer tick, a specific type of tick that is known to attach itself to deer and field mice. This type of tick is commonly found around branches and in wooded areas, as well as in grassy areas. It will attach itself to any warm-blooded animal that brushes against it, including human beings. Often, a deer tick can attach itself to you without you even being aware of it; many people who develop Lyme disease do not even remember being bitten by a tick.

Deer ticks, the most common carriers of Lyme disease, are very tiny, and very hard to see. This type of tick is much smaller that the more common tick known as the dog tick or wood tick. A deer tick can easily be as small as a poppy seed, or the head of a pin. An adult deer tick is no bigger than a grape seed. Because of its size, a deer tick bit is normally painless and goes unnoticed.

There is no specific time of year in which you can become infected with Lyme disease. It can happen at any time of the year. The risk is a bit higher during the months between May and the late part of August in the northern states because this is the time of year when people spend more time outdoors.

A tick that is infected must remain attached to the skin for 48 hours, or two days to infect a person with Lyme disease. The first sign that you may be infected with Lyme disease can appear in a few days or a few weeks after you have been bitten by an infected tick. The first sign is normally a rash that starts as a small red patch on the skin at the site of the bite. The rash can spread up to seven inches across. If the person has fair skin, the center of the rash will appear lighter in color and the outer edges of the rash will be red and raised. This is often called the "bull's eye rash" because it resembles what we commonly know to be a bull's eye. If the person has darker skin, the area may look like a bruise.

People with Lyme disease often complain of a fever, headache, as well as joint and muscle pain. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for the flu. These symptoms may develop slowly, and will not necessarily occur at the same time that the rash appears. As a matter of fact, there are cases where people have Lyme disease and never develop the rash.

If left untreated, Lyme disease will get worse. It can result in arthritis, numbness, memory loss, problems with hearing and sight, a high fever, and a stiff neck. Some of these later symptoms can indicate that there may be a problem within the brain or nervous system. Untreated Lyme disease can also cause an irregular or rapid heart rate, which could point to heart problems.

To prevent Lyme disease, you should always check yourself for ticks after you have been outdoors. If you cannot check yourself thoroughly, ask someone to help you. Change clothes, and wash your clothing after you have worn them outdoors. You may not see a tick on your skin, but one may be hidden in your clothes. Check your pets when they come in from being outside too. Pets can develop Lyme disease just as humans can, and they can carry ticks into the house that can bite you too.

If you do happen to find a tick on yourself, someone else, or your pet, remove it by pulling on it firmly and steadily. You should use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp a hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull on it slowly. If tweezers are not available, use something to protect your hand from the tick; you do not want the tick to attach itself to your hand as you are removing it. You should never attempt to burn the tick off of your skin, or use any other home remedies, such as coating the tick with petroleum jelly or nail polish, or pricking it with a pin. The tick needs to be removed completely from the skin to prevent infection.

Once you have removed the tick, wash the area with soap and water right away. If you have it available, use an antiseptic or triple antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection at the site of the bite. Be sure to check the site from time to time to be sure an infection has not begun.

If for some reason, you are unable to remove the tick, you should go see a doctor and have the doctor remove it for you. You should also go see a doctor if any part of the tick stays in the skin when you have tried to remove it. If you begin to develop any flu-like symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Normally, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. They will be most effective when Lyme disease is caught early. The longer you wait to see a doctor for symptoms of Lyme disease, the less effective antibiotic treatment will be.