Lyme Disease: Symptoms and Prevention Tips

✅ Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks).

Lyme Disease

Early Symptoms (3–30 days after tick bite):

  • Erythema migrans (EM) rash: Often a “bull’s-eye” shape, expanding red rash (occurs in ~70–80% of cases)
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Later Symptoms (weeks to months after bite):

  • Severe headaches and neck stiffness
  • Additional EM rashes on other areas of the body
  • Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
  • Arthritis (especially in large joints like knees)
  • Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)
  • Dizziness or shortness of breath
  • Nerve pain, shooting pains, numbness, or tingling
  • Problems with short-term memory or concentration

🛡️ Prevention Tips

1. Avoid Tick-Infested Areas:

  • Stay on clear, well-traveled trails.
  • Avoid tall grasses, brush, and wooded areas—especially in late spring and summer.

2. Use Protective Clothing:

  • Wear long sleeves and long pants.
  • Tuck pants into socks or boots.
  • Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks more easily.

3. Use Tick Repellents:

  • DEET: Apply to exposed skin (20–30% DEET is effective).
  • Permethrin: Treat clothing and gear (do not apply to skin).
  • Natural repellents like lemon eucalyptus oil may also offer protection.

4. Check for Ticks Frequently:

  • After spending time outdoors, perform full-body tick checks—especially:
    • Under arms
    • In/around ears
    • Behind knees
    • In hair
    • Around waist
    • Inside belly button
  • Use mirrors for hard-to-see areas.

5. Shower Soon After Being Outdoors:

  • Showering within two hours of coming indoors may reduce the risk of Lyme disease.

6. Remove Ticks Promptly and Properly:

  • Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  • Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
  • Clean the area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

7. Protect Pets:

  • Use veterinarian-recommended tick preventives on pets.
  • Check pets for ticks daily, especially if they roam in grassy or wooded areas.

⚠️ When to See a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you:

  • Develop a rash or fever after a tick bite.
  • Experience any of the later-stage symptoms.
  • Suspect you’ve had a tick bite, even if no symptoms appear right away.

Early treatment with antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) is very effective.