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Few can resist the allure of a warm afternoon spent in the backyard . Whether it ’ s a family barbecue , a lazy afternoon reading in a hammock or a day spent working in the garden , there ’ s many ways to have fun in the backyard on a warm day .
A backyard can feel like an oasis , but even the most peaceful refuge is not safe from hazards , including ticks . Black-legged ticks pose a particular threat to individuals who live in specific regions , as these unwelcome critters may carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease . Recognition of Lyme disease , its symptoms and potential treatment plans is important for anyone planning to spend time relaxing in their backyards anytime soon .
Explaining Lyme disease
The Cleveland Clinic notes that Lyme disease is most often caused by Borrelia burgdorferi , a bacteria carried by blacklegged ticks , which are sometimes referred to as “ deer ticks .” ( The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates some cases of Lyme disease are caused by the bacteria Borrellia mayonii , though such cases are rare .) Lyme disease is named after the small town in Connecticut where the disease was first recognized nearly half a century ago . The CDC reports that Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States .
How is Lyme disease transmitted ?
Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black-legged tick . Though there are many varieties of ticks , Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that only the
The basics of Lyme disease
black-legged deer tick and Western blacklegged tick transmit Lyme disease .
What are some symptoms of Lyme disease ?
The CDC indicates that Lyme disease produces a wide range of symptoms , and those symptoms vary depending on how long it ’ s been since a person was bitten by a tick .
Early symptoms of Lyme disease may appear as soon as three days after a bite and as late as 30 days after a bite . The CDC characterizes symptoms appearing between three and 30 days after a bite as “ early symptoms ,” which may include :
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes may occur in the absence of a rash
• Erythema migrans ( EM ) is a rash that occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons . The rash begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of three to 30 days ( average time to appear is about seven days . The rash expands gradually over several days , reaching up to 12 inches or more ( 30 centimeters ) across . EM may feel warm to the touch but is not typically itchy or painful . EM sometimes clears as it enlarges , resulting in a target or “ bull ’ s-eye ” appearance , and the rash may appear on any area of the body
Some symptoms may appear days to months after a tick bite , and these may include :
• Severe headaches and neck stiffness
• Additional EM rashes that appear on other areas of the body
• Facial palsy characterized by a loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face
• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling , particularly in the knees and other large joints .
• Intermittent pain in tendons , muscles , joints , and bones
• Lyme carditis , a condition characterized by heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
• Nerve pain
• Shooting pains , numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Can Lyme disease be treated ? Many cases of Lyme disease are successfully treated after a few weeks of antibiotics . However , some people report persistent symptoms even after antibiotic treatments , and the CDC notes additional research is necessary to help people in such situations .
Lyme disease is something to keep in mind as warm weather returns . More information about Lyme disease is available at cdc . gov . n
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