Lyme Disease is the most common disease transmitted by the black legged tick also known as "Deer Tick". Almost everyone knows someone who has contracted Lyme Disease. Some people will recover other people will suffer life long debilitating effects. The scariest thing for me is that Lyme Disease can effect any organ in the body. It is not just joint pain, it can damage any organ such as your heart or your brain. The problem with doctors diagnosing Lyme Disease it that the symptoms don't present the same. One person could have joint pain another could come in with "Bells Palsy" where muscle tone is lost on one side of the face causing facial droop.
Not everyone will get the "bulls eye rash" that everyone talks about the rash is only observed in around 80% of Lyme Disease patients.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptomsl include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well.
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