Lyme disease is an infection from being bitten by a deer tick. The illness usually starts with a reddish welt on the skin at the area of the tick bite. Not all ticks carry the infection, and not all areas of the country are affected. Ticks are most often found in the Midwest and Northeast coastal states. They have also been found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Oregon. Most people who get Lyme Disease are bitten by a tick in late spring or early summer. Though ticks live on wild animals and birds, they are usually picked up from low lying vegetation where they are lying in wait for a host. The more time you spend in wooded areas, the more chance you have of being exposed to the illness.

The fist sign of Lyme Disease is a red area on the skin where the tick was attached. Later, you may get a rash and symptoms like the flu. This can be a fever, chills, soreness, headache, nausea and vomiting. If not treated, Lyme disease can eventually lead to more serious symptoms such as insomnia, hearing loss, arthritis, heart disease, paralysis and dementia. Women who are pregnant should be especially careful, since it is possible that Lyme Disease can lead to miscarriage and birth defects in the fetus.

The best way to avoid being bitten by a tick is to wear long pants and sleeves. There are also insect repellents you can get at the drugstore that will help repel the ticks. If you are going to be outside all day, be sure to check your clothes and skin every few hours. Deer ticks are very small (the largest are about the size of a sesame seed). Make sure that you check carefully because they can be hard to see.

If you find a tick on yourself, its important to take it off as soon as possible. If the tick is removed within 24 hours, the risk of getting Lyme Disease is much lower. To remove the tick, use tweezers or a tissue and grab the tick close to the skin and pull up slowly. Be careful not to crush the tick, because the fluid inside can spread the infection. After the tick is removed, wash your hands and disinfect the area of the bite. Call your doctor if you are not sure that all of the tick was removed or if you notice the early symptoms of the disease. The first symptoms can begin anytime from weeks to months after the bite.

Fortunately, Lyme Disease can be treated with antibiotics. It is important to get treatment as soon as possible. This lowers the chance of complications.

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