The early signs of Lyme disease you shouldn’t ignore

For many people, one of the least appealing parts of hiking, camping or even taking the dog on a trail isn't the steep climb or sleeping on the ground, it's the thought of finding a tick afterward. Social media has only amplified those fears.

The truth is that Lyme disease is a serious illness that deserves attention, but it's also widely misunderstood. The vast majority of cases can be treated successfully when diagnosed early, while delayed treatment increases the risk of more serious complications.

Here's what Lyme disease is, how it spreads and when to seek medical care.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused primarily by Borrelia burgdorferi – and less commonly in the United States by Borrelia mayonii – that spreads to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, commonly called deer ticks, explains Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease physician at Stanford University School of Medicine.

It is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that roughly 476,000 Americans are diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease each year. Official surveillance "captures only part of the burden," says Scott, because many people are treated…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/life/