Your local health department can give you information about the risk of Lyme disease in the county where you live. How Lyme disease is contracted The incidence of Lyme disease is on the rise probably because healthcare providers and patients are more aware of it, know more about it, and perhaps because the true incidence may actually be increasing. For the tick to transmit the spirochete to a person, it must be attached for at least 24 to 48 hours. The illness usually begins as a localized disease with a circular rash at the site of the tick bite. This circular rash tends to get bigger in size and then flu-like symptoms, such as fever, lack of energy, headache, and joint pain, may follow.
Antibiotics are effective in treatment, but who and when to treat needs to be individualized.
There is a vaccine available, but only for people between the ages of 15 and 70. Hank Bernstein Children's Hospital Find out more about your health from Dr. Bernstein.