Bites from the tiny, black deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) can result in Lyme disease.

• Lyme Disease is carried by this parasitic tick on mice, deer, and pets.
• The disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Summer is the prime time for Lyme disease.
• The number of cases doubled from 2001 to 2002.
• The disease has spread to 43 of the 48 contiguous United States, with 12 states in the Northeast and northern Midwest accounting for 95% of the reported cases.
• Groups at highest risk include children ages 5 to 14, and adults ages 50 to 59.

Symptoms

Infection does not usually occur until the tick has been attached to your body for 36 hours.

• The disease is usually accompanied by an expanding bull's eye rash at the site of the bite. Secondary symptoms may include muscle pain, headache, and swollen glands.
• If untreated the bacterium can lodge in the body, causing fever, sore throat, severe fatigue, joint pain, tingling or numbness in the extremities, and changes in vision.
• In its late stages the disease can lead to arthritis, meningitis, facial drooping, numbness in the hands and feet, and neurological disorders that can include short-term memory loss, the inability to concentrate or finish sentences, disorientation, and confusion.

Treatment

Lyme disease can be easily cured if diagnosed early and treated with a short course of antibiotics.

Prevention

When out camping or hiking:

• Wear shoes, socks, and light colored clothing.
• Spray your clothes and skin with an insect repellent containing DEET.
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails.
• Avoid moist, shady areas covered with leaf litter or low-lying vegetation.
• Don't sit on the ground or on stone walls.
• Keep long hair under a cap or tied back.
• Do a full-body check for ticks at the end of the day.