If left untreated, it can cause disability. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease is important so it can be detected and treated promptly. It is also important to follow simple precautions to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease come from small, insect-like creatures called ticks. However, unlike insects, ticks have eight legs instead of six.
Ticks usually live in woods or tall grasslands in various regions of the country.
Lacking wings, they hang onto small bushes or tall grass usually close to the ground, and wait for an animal or person to pass near them. They brush onto passing animals or people, and attach themselves to the skin to suck a small amount of blood. Sometimes people can feel ticks move around on the body but tick bites are usually painless and often occur unnoticed. Lyme disease is spread mainly by two species of ticks in North America. One is the deer tick, Ixodes dammini , found mainly in the eastern regions of the continent.