Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S., impacts more than 62,000 Americans per year, according to a recent report from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts argue, however, that the number of Americans with Lyme is likely much higher—a staggering 476,000 people—due to misdiagnoses, under-diagnosed cases, and those with Lyme symptoms who have yet to test positive for the disease via two blood samples.
Lyme disease is most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. A common misconception about Lyme disease is that it’s only found in the Eastern U.S. due to the high population of the Eastern black-legged tick, but the Western black-legged tick can (and often does) carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme. What was once a predominantly East Coast condition can now be found in 42 of 48 counties in California, according to the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. As temperatures rise and travel increases, so does the risk of exposure to infected ticks across the country.
Preventing tick bites is crucial, especially during the summer when outdoor activities are more frequent. Lyme disease also affects animals, which can bring ticks into homes, increasing human risk. Here are some tips to help protect yourself:
- Wear Protective Clothing: Dress in long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck pants into socks to create a barrier.
- Use Tick Repellents: Apply insect repellent to skin or clothing. I personally recommend essential oils such as oregano oil, thyme, and clove if applying directly to skin or your furry friend. For extra protection, treat clothing and gear with permethrin.
- Avoid Tick-Infested Areas: Stay on well-maintained trails and avoid tall grasses, dense vegetation, and leaf litter where ticks are commonly found.
- Perform Tick Checks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks. Pay special attention to hidden areas like the scalp, behind the ears, and underarms. Always check your kids after they have been playing outside, they are one of the most vulnerable populations to contracting Lyme Disease and dealing with chronic Lyme for years of their life.
- Shower After Being Outdoors: Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash off unattached ticks and provides an opportunity for a thorough tick check.
- Kill Ticks with Dry Heat: Quickly remove clothing from outdoor activities, including socks and undergarments, and run them on dry high heat in your dryer for a minimum of 10 minutes to kill any ticks attached to your clothing.
What To Do If You’ve Been Bit by a Tick
If you’ve been bitten by a tick, promptly remove it with fine-tipped tweezers by grasping it close to the skin and pulling upward steadily. It is imperative to remove the tick in its entirety and to avoid crushing it or removing part of its body and leaving parts behind. If you are an avid outdoors person or live in an epidemic area, I would also recommend buying a tick removal tool like the Bug Bite Thing Tick Remover, which meets CDC guidelines for proper tick removal. After removal, clean both the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and dispose of the tick properly. The safest way to dispose of a live tick is by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.
You may also want to send the tick in for testing to see if it was a carrier for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that can lead to Lyme. It should be noted, however, that testing for the bacteria both in humans and ticks remains inconclusive, and there are many people who test negative for Lyme while still exhibiting chronic Lyme symptoms even after treatment.
Once you have removed and disposed of the tick, monitor the bite site for any signs of Lyme disease such as a rash, fever, fatigue, or muscle aches, and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms develop. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent complications, so seek medical advice if necessary.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease symptoms and their severity vary from case to case, though there are several that typically appear in most Lyme cases. Many people associate Lyme disease with the “Bulls-Eye Rash” known for circling and creating a bulls-eye-like target around the bite mark. This rash, however, is only found in approximately 70 percent of Lyme cases, so do not rule out Lyme if you were bit by a tick and do not present with a rash. Symptoms of acute Lyme, or symptoms that occur in the days to weeks after the initial infection, include fever, fatigue, aches, chills, swollen lymph nodes, and flu-like symptoms.
Early detection is critical and immediate treatment with antibiotics is effective. Some patients might experience persistent symptoms, known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) or chronic Lyme. Symptoms of chronic Lyme can include neurologic features and cognitive impairment such as vertigo or dizziness, mental fog, difficulty sleeping or extreme fatigue, Lyme-related arthritis, and more.
Lyme Disease Resources
For those seeking more information on Lyme disease and patient resources, please see these top Lyme resources below.
- Global Lyme Alliance: This organization offers extensive resources on Lyme disease, including research updates, patient support, and educational materials.
- LymeDisease.org: A trusted source for news, research, and advocacy, this organization provides valuable information on Lyme disease symptoms, treatments, and patient experiences.
- #BeTickAware: A “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” campaign presented by Bug Bite Thing, Global Lyme Alliance, and doctors Thomas Mather, Ph.D., director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and TickEncounter Resource Center, and Stephen Rich, Ph.D., executive director of the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases. The campaign aims to educate and protect both people and pets on the dangers of vector-borne disease (disease spread via blood-feeding insects like ticks).
- The Ignored Pandemic: Real Stories of Lyme Disease: With a foreword written by actor and advocate Christopher Meloni, this book serves as both a Lyme 101 guide for patients and caregivers for those newly diagnosed with Lyme, as well as resource for those with chronic Lyme, sharing the personal stories of more than a dozen chronic Lyme patients from around the globe.
