1. Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease
Fact or Fiction

2. What organism causes it?
Caused by a bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi
Named after Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, who discovered the agent of Lyme disease in 1982

3. How is it transmitted?
Infection is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks (blacklegged or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis)
Ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite infected mice or deer
Ticks spread the disease to other animals, including humans

4. How is it transmitted?
Passed to humans when an infected tick bites a person & stays attached long enough to take a blood meal (usually at least hours)

5. Where & when was it first discovered?
Named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where the illness was first identified in the U.S. in 1975
Research started after a mysterious group of rheumatoid arthritis cases occurred among children

6. Is it common in PA? Cases have been reported in nearly every state
Concentrated in east coastal states, north central states, & northern California
Lyme disease cases have grown 78% in the past decade
Increase in whitetail deer population
More people moving to rural areas
Changes in collection of information

9. What are some signs & symptoms?
Early symptoms within a week, other symptoms can appear weeks, months or years later
Tiredness, chills, fever, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, swollen lymph glands, skin rash (red circular patch)

11. How can it be treated? Blood screenings can be used to diagnose
Antibiotics
Patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and completely.
Vaccine discontinued in 2002

12. What can happen if it’s left untreated?
Arthritis
Nervous system problems (numbness, meningitis, Bell’s palsy)
Irregularities of the heart rhythm

13. What can you do to prevent getting it?
Avoid exposure to infected ticks
Wear long sleeves and pants tucked in socks
Light-colored clothing
Use insecticides
Check yourself & your pets for ticks after outdoor activities