You can get Lyme disease after a deer tick feeds on you. The deer tick is found in most of the United States. Doctors on Long Island, New York, tested 396 building trades workers and found 43 had Lyme disease. Three of them had the disease long enough to need intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks, costing thousands of dollars each. The Hazards Lyme disease affects everyone differently.
Some people get sick in about a week.
The first sign may be a rash near the tick bite. Other people may not seem sick until months or years after a tick bite. The disease can permanently damage the nervous system and joints. Sometimes joint replacement is needed. The ticks are found in brush, woods, and tall grass.