Lyme Disease: What You NEED To Know

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi).

Blacklegged ticks and other species of ticks can carry these bacteria.

The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with B. burgdorferi.

You can get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick.

Symptoms of early localized Lyme disease (stage 1) begin days or weeks after infection. They are similar to the flu and may include: Chills, Fever, General ill feeling, Headache, Joint pain, Muscle pain and Stiff neck.

Symptoms may come and go. Untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the brain, heart, and joints.

Kaye McGrath, NP is here to discuss Lyme disease, what symptoms you should look for and treatments available through Stoughton hospitals.