Oak Valley Health’s patient education pages share the skills, knowledge, and habits patients and families need to know to cope with a daily health issue. We hope this information can influence patient behaviour to improve health outcomes and provide you with a sense of control and autonomy.
Learn more about the risks, causes, and treatment of lyme disease
Lyme disease is an infection that can affect the skin, joints, and nervous system. It is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of an infected tick. If left untreated symptoms can occur months to a few years after the tick bite.
A bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi
Being bitten by an infected tick (black-legged, or Ixodes, ticks)
The tick must remain attached to your skin for a certain amount of time in order to transmit the infection. This usually takes 36–48 hours.
Infected ticks are frequently carried by deer and are as small as a poppy seed
Spending time in wooded or grassy areas
Being outdoors with skin exposed
Camping, gardening, hiking, fishing, hunting, or working outdoors
You do not remove a tick from your skin
Chills and fever
Headache
Fatigue
Body aches
Body aches
Joint pain
A round, red rash on the skin
Swollen lymph glands
Medicine
Antibiotics
Persistent or recurrent symptoms after treatment
You have been bitten by a tick or think you might have lyme disease based on the above symptoms
