Lyme disease is caused by a germ.

You can't catch Lyme disease from a person - you catch it from a tick bite.

It is spread by the bite of a deer tick.

Tick must usually be attached to the body for at least 24 hours before they pass the Lyme disease germ to people. Not every tick bite causes Lyme disease.
Deer Ticks are very small and flat - about the size of the head of a pin. They are much
smaller than the common dog tick. When the tick feeds on the body of a host animal the
ticks become full of blood and will swell

Symptoms can appear 3 to 32 days after a tick bite.

Most people with Lyme disease will develop a rash where they were bitten. The rash starts
as a small, red, round area, which can spread to two or more inches across. The center
of the rash may clear giving a "bull's eye" appearance. Other symptoms can be fever,
headache, feeling tired, stiff neck, joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. Without
treatment, the heart, nervous system, or joints may be affected weeks to months later.

Anyone can get Lyme disease

People may be exposed when they spend time outdoors in tick - infested areas. Ticks
like a moist, shaded area such as wooded, or grassy places. A person can also get
Lyme disease from a tick that has been brought into the house by a pet or small
rodents (like the white footed mouse). A person can get Lyme disease more than once.

You can get a blood test.

A blood test for Lyme disease can be done. In the early stage of illness the test may
be negative. Diagnosis of Lyme disease in the early stage is usually based on symptoms of Lyme disease in a person with a known tick bite.

Lyme Disease can be treated; see your doctor if you think you have Lyme
disease

A doctor may treat Lyme disease with antibiotics based on a persons illness and a
history of a tick bite and tick exposure. Antibiotics can also be used to treat later stages
of Lyme disease

Early treatment is needed to prevent serious and sometimes prolonged illness.

You can prevent Lyme disease:

Avoiding tick bites is a way to prevent Lyme disease.

The best way to prevent tick bites is to:

Avoid tall grass and areas where you know ticks are present.

Ticks are most common in the summer and spring.

Inspect children and self for ticks while you are in tick infested areas and
after a visit to tick infested area.

Look along the hairline, in the hair and ears. Check under the arms and in the groin
area as well. Check your pets for ticks.

Dress to keeps the ticks off your skin.

Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. Wear wide brimmed hats. Since ticks crawl
upward, tuck socks and shirt into pants. Keep shirt sleeves and collar
buttoned. Wear light colored clothes to help spot ticks.

Use bug spray (containing not less than 30% Deet).

Apply to clothing where it overlaps or has an opening. Apply across the shoulders,
down the outside of arms and around the brim of your hat. Read the directions on the
bug spray bottle carefully. Do not spray near your eyes. Make sure it is safe to use on children.

If you find an attached tick:

Remove the tick with a tweezers.

Grasp the head of the tick at the skin level and give a firm, steady, slow pull upward
untill it comes away from the skin.Do not squeeze or smash the tick!
Do not use a lit match, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or other chemicals to remove the tick.

Record the date of the tick bite on the calendar.

Call your health care provider.
Look for signs of early Lyme disease for the next 32 days such as a rash
at the site of the bite/or a mild flu - like illness.

A vaccine can prevent Lyme disease.

There is one Lyme disease vaccine in the United States. It is used for people ages 15 to
70 years old. The Lyme disease vaccination series consists of three shots.
Lyme disease vaccine is recommended for people who are exposed to ticks in wooded
areas, or grassy areas where they live, play and hike. The vaccine does
not always prevent Lyme disease and may not be right for you. Talk to your doctor for further
information about the Lyme vaccine.