Pediatrics Common Questions, Quick Answers

Lyme Disease

Donna D'Alessandro, M.D.
Susan Kinzer, M.P.H.
Peer Review Status: Internally Reviewed
Creation Date: October 2002
Last Revision Date: October 2002

• What is Lyme disease?
• What causes it?
• Who can get it?
• What are the signs and symptoms?
• Is it contagious?
• How is it diagnosed?
• How is it treated?
• Can it be prevented?
• When should I call the doctor?

What is Lyme disease?

• Lyme disease is an infection you can get after being bitten by a tick.

What causes it?

• The bacterium (germ), Borrelia burgdorferi, causes Lyme disease.
• It is carried by the black-legged tick (deer tick) and the western black-legged tick.
•  The tick is the size of a pencil point.
• The tick releases the germs into your bloodstream.
• The germs travel through your blood and stop in various places in your body.
• They can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are severe.

Who can get it?
Lyme disease is most commonly found in three areas of the United States:

• Northeast
• Upper Midwest
• Pacific Northwest

You may be at higher risk if you:

• Live in one of the three high risk areas of the United States
• Live or work in the forest or other wooded areas
• Spend a lot of time in the yard or grass
• Spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting
• Work in jobs like landscaping, brush clearing, forestry, and wildlife industries

What are the signs and symptoms?

• The most common sign is a red-ringed rash (erythema migrans) around the tick bite.
• The rash looks like a bullís-eye or a target.
• The rash usually appears 1 to 2 weeks after the tick bite.
• Other common symptoms are tiredness, fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, and joint pain.
• Also, there can be arthritis, and loss of feeling in the arms, legs, or feet.
• Death is very, very rare.

Is it contagious?

• No, you cannot get Lyme disease from another person.
• You can only get it from getting bit by an infected tick.

How is it diagnosed?

• Sometimes your health history and a physical examination are all that is needed.
• There are some blood tests that may help too.

How is it treated?

• It is treated with antibiotics (medicine) by mouth.
• Some people may need medicine by a shot.
• Treatment usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
• If not treated, symptoms can occur months or years later.

Can it be prevented?

• When you or your child are in an area that could have ticks:
• Wear light colored clothing. It makes it easier to see if any ticks are on you.
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants.
• Tuck your pant legs into your boots or under your socks.
• Keep long hair pulled back.
• Wear a hat.
• Try not to sit on the ground.
• Check often for ticks on you and your child.
• The Lyme vaccine (shot) is not available anymore.

When should I call the doctor?

• Call your doctor if your child was bitten by a tick and has a red-ringed bullís-eye rash around the area.
• Call your doctor if she has a fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, or joint pain.
• Call your doctor if you have any questions about your childís condition.

Quick Answers

• Lyme disease is an infection you can get after being bitten by a tick.
• Lyme disease is most often found in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest.
• You can only get Lyme disease by being bitten by an infected tick. You cannot get it from another person.
• The most common sign is a red-ringed rash (erythema migrans) around the site of the tick bite.
• Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.
• Call your doctor if your child has the red-ringed rash, or has other symptoms such as a fever, chills, headache, stiff neck or joint pain.
• To help prevent it, wear long-sleeved clothing and a hat when you or your child are outdoors in areas where ticks could live.

References

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Report of the Comm. on Infectious Diseases. Lyme Disease. p. 334-39.
• American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc. Lyme Disease. (cited 2002 September 4). URL: http://www.aldf.com/Lyme.asp http://www.aldf.com/Lyme.asp
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme Disease. 2001 September 21. (cited 2002 September 4). URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
• KidsHealth for Parents. Lyme Disease. 2001 September. (cited 2002 September 4). URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/lyme.html

Title Page

See related Patient Topics Infections, Injuries and Wounds, Insect Bites and Stings or Lyme Disease.

See related Provider Topics Infections or Injuries and Wounds.

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