Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and is the widest occurring disease spread by ticks in North America. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of a blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick. These tiny creatures are commonly found in grassy and wooded regions.
The first sign of the disease is usually a circular rash at the site of the tick bite. The size of the rash varies from person to person.
Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and chills. Left untreated, the disease can cause arthritis, heart problems, peripheral neurologic symptoms, and inflammation of spinal cord.
Because most of its early symptoms mimic those of the flu, the diagnosis of lyme disease is often missed. Laboratory testing may provide useful information to help diagnose the disease, which is treated with antibiotics, and results in cure in the great majority of patients treated.