Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria called a spirochete. The disease is spread to humans by the bites of deer ticks infected with this bacteria. Deer ticks are tiny black-brown creatures. They live in forests or grassy, wooded, marshy areas near rivers, lakes, or oceans. Many people who have been infected with Lyme disease were bitten by deer ticks while hiking or camping, during other outdoor activities, or even while spending time in their own backyards, from the late spring to early fall.

Deer ticks that are infected with Lyme disease live in areas that have very low and high seasonal temperatures and high humidity. In the United States, almost all cases of Lyme disease occur in the following regions: Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont) North central states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) West Coast(California)

The first and most obvious symptom of Lyme disease is a localized rash that begins as a pink or red circle that expands over time and may become several inches or larger. It may appear from 3 to 30 days after the bite occurred. Some people may have a single circle, while others may have many. Most people who develop the rash won't feel anything, but for others the rash may hurt, itch, burn, or feel warm to the touch. The rash most commonly appears on the head, neck, groin, thighs, trunk, and armpits. A rash may occur without any other symptoms or may include

Headache
Chills
Fever
Fatigue
Swollen glands, usually in the neck or groin Aches and pains in the muscles or joints

If your child develops the rash with or without any of these symptoms, call your pediatrician.

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics (usually penicillin, a tetracycline or cephalosporin) prescribed by your pediatrician. The antibiotics are usually taken by mouth, but also can be given intravenously (directly into the bloodstream through a vein) in more severe cases. Both early and late stages of the disease can be treated with antibiotics. Patients diagnosed during early stages do not require blood tests before or after initiating treatment.

See: Lyme Disease,Lyme Disease (and Other Tick-borne Diseases)—Child Care and Schools

CDC:Ticks and Lyme Disease