LYME DISEASE
Ninfa Peña-Purcell, PhD, CHES
Presentation Objectives
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Define Lyme disease.
Describe what causes Lyme disease.
Describe symptoms and signs of Lyme
disease.
Discuss ways to protect against Lyme
disease.
What is Lyme disease?
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Most common tick/insect-borne disease in
the U.S.
A disease that can cause skin, joint, heart
and nervous system problems.
Lyme disease can affect people of all
ages.
Named after the town of Lyme,
Connecticut where it was first described in
1976.
What causes Lyme disease?
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Caused by a specialized type of bacteria
called spirochete.
Transmitted by the bite of an infected tick
or flea. Other insects that feed on animal
blood may be involved.
Ticks that cause Lyme disease
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Black-legged (or deer) tick: Transmits
Lyme disease to humans. Found in northcentral and northeastern U.S.
Lone star tick: Found in Texas and has
been know to transmit Lyme disease.
Rocky Mountain tick: Can transmit Lyme
disease as well as Rocky Mountain spotted
fever.
Ticks that cause Lyme disease
Black-legged Tick
Lone Star Tick
Rocky Mountain Tick
Lyme Disease: Signs and
Symptoms
Two stages of Lyme disease:
 Stage 1 (Early stage) – 3 to 30 days after bite.
 Flu-like
symptoms develop within 7 – 14 days.
 Symptoms include fatigue, headache, fever and
chills, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness and, a non-productive cough.
 Skin lesion(s) may appear as a small red circular
rash around the bite and expand.
 Secondary skin rashes appear in nearly 80% of
individuals with Lyme disease.
Lyme Disease – Skin Rash
Multiple
Erythema
Migrans
(Skin rash)
Lyme Disease: Signs and
Symptoms
Two stages of Lyme disease:
 Stage II (Late) – May occur weeks or
months after the onset of Lyme disease.
 Severe
headache and neck pain or stiffness.
 Arthritis will develop in 60% of patients weeks
or months after infection (rarely more than 2
years).
 Fifteen percent of people infected with Lyme
disease develop neurological symptoms,
including psychiatric problems.
Diagnosing Lyme Disease
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Notify a doctor if you become ill after
being bitten by a tick.
A diagnosis will be made based on
clinical signs and symptoms and the
results of a blood test.
Preventing Lyme Disease
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Take protective measures when outdoors.
 Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks
can be easily seen.
 Tuck pants into boots or socks.
 Use a repellant containing DEET.
 Walk in the center of trails, and avoid
contact with high grass and brush at trail
edges.
Keep pets free of ticks.
How to remove a tick
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Use tweezers to grasp the tick at the
surface of the skin.
If tweezers are not available, use a tissue
to protect your fingers. (Exposure to the
tick’s fluids may lead to transmission of the
disease).
With a steady motion, pull the tick straight
out.
After removing tick, disinfect the bite site,
and wash hands with soap and water.
Other facts
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Lyme disease cannot be transmitted
person-to-person.
People being treated with antibiotics for
Lyme disease should not donate blood.
Scientists have found that the Lyme
disease bacteria can live in blood stored
for donation.
You cannot get Lyme disease from eating
venison or squirrel meat.
Questions?
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) (2008). Lyme disease. Retrieved on
March 18, 2008 from http://www.cdc.gov/
ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm.
Texas Department of State Health Services
(2005). Lyme disease. (No. 7-35). Austin,
TX: Author.
Rawlings, J. (1999). Lyme Disease in Texas.
Disease Prevention News 59 (10) 1-4.
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people
without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.