The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are about 476,000 cases of Lyme disease each year in the United States.

Most cases of Lyme disease are high in Colorado, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. About a thousand cases are reported each year on average in the Midwest and Northeast.

If you’ve been outside in an area where ticks live, you’ve already taken the first step to protect yourself. But knowledge is power and prevention is the best strategy.

Read on to discover the link between tick bites and Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease and The Link to Tick Bites

Lyme disease is a serious infection caused by tick bites. Ticks are small, blood-sucking insects that live in wooded areas. It’s found and thrives in plants, animals, and people.

Lyme disease can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, rash, joint pain, and fatigue.

If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to serious health problems. This includes seizures, paralysis, and even death.

Antibiotics are the suggested treatment for Lyme disease. But it is important to catch the disease early to avoid serious complications.

Lyme disease is only spread by the Ixodes tick, which is also called a deer tick. If a deer tick bites a person, a doctor will tell them to do one of two things:

1. Watch for signs or symptoms of infection
2. Treat right away with a preventive antibiotic

There is no point in testing for Lyme disease in the blood right after a tick bite. Even if you get sick, you won’t have a positive blood test for about two to six weeks after the infection starts.

Choosing one of these options will depend a lot on the history of the tick bite.

Protecting Yourself From Lyme Disease

Deer ticks can be as small as a poppy seed. You might not even know that it has bitten you.

The best way to avoid getting Lyme disease is to keep ticks from biting you. Use bug spray when going to places where ticks are likely to live to protect yourself and your family.

Check your clothes and gear for ticks when you get back inside. Take a shower within two hours of getting back inside. Then check your whole body. Check your hair, too, because ticks can be hard to see there.

It will be even more important to keep ticks away from yourself and your family. But you can still enjoy the outdoors without worry if you know about tick bites and take steps to avoid them.

If there is a tick infestation near your house, you should find a tick exterminator services expert in your area.

A Recap on Tick Bites and Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an illness that can be very bad and is spread by tick bites. It is a serious tick-borne disease that can show up in many different ways in people who have it.

If you think you might have Lyme disease, you must see a doctor as soon as possible.

Do you think this article will help your friends and family protect themselves in the outdoors? Keep reading our blog for more tips and advice.