Does the thought of Lyme disease make you worry about enjoying the great outdoors? Here are some ways to lower your risk for Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a type of bacteria. The bacteria can spread to humans through the bit of an infected tick. The infection can lead to problems with the skin, heart, brain, and joints. Treatment with antibiotics usually cures Lyme disease, especially when started early. Rarely, symptoms of Lyme disease can last after treatment.
No. Only deer ticks (sometimes called black-legged ticks) cause Lyme disease. And most people bitten by one of these ticks don't usually get Lyme disease because:
Anyone bitten by an infected deer tick can get Lyme disease. Most U.S. cases of Lyme disease happen in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. But Lyme disease is found in other parts of the world, too.
Besides living in one of these areas, other things that might increase your risk include:
Not all cases of Lyme disease can be prevented. But you can protect yourself from tick bites. If you go into an area where ticks live, be sure to:
You should know how to remove a tick just in case one lands on you or a friend. To be safe, remove the tick as soon as possible.
If you find a tick:
Note: Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill a tick. They won't get the tick off your skin quickly enough, and may just cause it to burrow deeper into your skin.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date Reviewed: Apr 10, 2022