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It's possible to encounter a tick during any time of year. However, in the northeastern United States, tick season runs from April through October. Because ticks can carry a bacterium that can cause Lyme disease, it’s critical to know what Lyme disease is and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.����

The prevalence of Lyme disease creates a challenge for health officials each year when it comes time to calculate the disease’s range. Because of how widespread Lyme disease is, not every case is counted. In New York in 2021, there were about of Lyme disease, which is roughly 12% of what was reported for the entire country that same year.��

Learn about Lyme disease and pick up some prevention tips to help keep your family safe this summer.��

Lyme Disease and Ticks��

Vector-borne illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites that spread to humans from animals or other living organisms. In the United States, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness.����

“Lyme disease is mainly caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi,” says Melanie Dubois, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at �ձ�avɫ��Ƭ. “In the eastern United States, it’s transmitted via the black-legged tick, also called a deer tick.”��

Less than half of all black-legged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. However, given the risk of the disease and that there are no approved vaccines to prevent Lyme disease—staying away from the insect is important.����

Steering Clear of Ticks��

Quick Response Is Key��

The faster you spot and remove a tick, the lower your chances of developing Lyme disease after exposure. The chance of contracting the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is very low if you remove the tick within 36 hours. There is a greater risk for infection with Lyme if the tick is engorged and has fed for greater than 72 hours. Acting quickly can also tick-borne illnesses.��

Taking Action After a Tick Bite��

If you find an engorged tick, that’s a sign that the tick may have been attached for 36 hours or more. In this case, remove the tick and contact your primary care provider (PCP) or your child’s pediatrician.����

Your provider will ask you for more information about the tick and tick bite. Based on your unique circumstances, they may recommend for prophylaxis.����

Symptoms of Lyme Disease��

Lyme disease occurs when the immune system tries to fight off the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It often takes three days to a month for symptoms to begin.��

“Early in disease, children and adults can present with a bull’s-eye rash, known as erythema migrans, with other associated symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and fever,” Dr. Dubois says. “Later manifestations can include spread of the disease to the nervous system, heart or joints. The best way to prevent later complications of Lyme disease is to recognize the early manifestations of disease and provide treatment.”��

Lyme Disease Testing and Treatment��

There are blood tests that detect Lyme disease by measuring antibodies. Because developing antibodies can take several weeks, blood tests are not recommended in the first few weeks after infection. Instead, providers often decide to treat early Lyme disease based on your history of tick exposure and symptoms. In some cases, your PCP or child’s pediatrician may refer you to an adult or pediatric Infectious Disease specialist.����

Lyme disease is generally treated with two to four weeks of antibiotics in children and adults. A found that most children ages 5 to 18 who received treatment for Lyme disease fully recovered from the disease within six months.����

Still, a small percentage of adults and children treated for Lyme disease continue to have symptoms, such as brain fog or fatigue, for more than six months. This is called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, or PTLDS.����

“Lyme disease is treated based on the clinical presentation, which can include rash, arthritis and several other manifestations depending on the timing of the illness,” Dr. Dubois says. “Once patients have received the appropriate treatment for Lyme disease, additional antibiotics are not recommended if there are persistent symptoms after treatment.”��

If you find a tick on yourself or your child, �ձ�avɫ��Ƭ providers are here to help. Find a doctor today.��