🦠 What is Lyme Disease? When to Worry about That Tick Bite!

drkurowski
Jun 11
2 min read

Lyme disease is an illness you can get from a very tiny bug called a deer tick (also called a black-legged tick/Ixodes). Deer ticks are much smaller than a typical wood tick. These ticks bite animals or people and carry bacteria called Borrelia.

When Are Ticks Most Active?

Ticks are active when it's above freezing—usually from May through November. The most active months are in the summer.

Lyme Disease in Wisconsin

In 2023, Wisconsin had 6,379 confirmed cases—the most ever in our state!
The number of cases here has been growing over the past 15 years.
Deer ticks are now found in every county of Wisconsin.

You can only get Lyme disease if an infected tick bites and stays attached to your skin long enough—usually at least 36 hours and will often be engorged. A flat tick is unlikely to have transmitted Lyme Disease.

Who Gets Lyme Disease?

Those who are outside in woods, tall grass, or near leaf piles have a higher chance but they can be found anywhere that a deer can be found.

How Do You Know You Have It?

After a tick bite, symptoms can start 3–30 days later. Early signs include:

A red rash that grows bigger—sometimes with a bull’s-eye shape
Fever, chills, headache, tiredness
Achy muscles, joint pain, or a stiff neck

If not treated, later issues may include:

Swollen or painful joints
Trouble with your heart or nervous system

How Is Lyme Disease Treated?

It’s treated with antibiotics for a prolonged period.

We can often prevent Lyme disease in a person who has been bit with a tick. If the tick has been attached for 36 hours, you will often be treated with a 1x dose of an oral antibiotic called doxycyline as long as it has been given within 72 hours of tick removal.

How Can You Stay Safe?

Here are some superhero tips to avoid tick bites:

Dress smart
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
- Tuck pants into socks so ticks can't crawl up.
- Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks easily.
Use repellent in dense woods
Tick check after playing
- Shower soon after being outside.
- Look carefully in places like behind knees, armpits, belly button, hairline, and around ears. They really love the ears!
- Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.
Remove ticks the right way
- Use fine tweezers to grab the tick near the skin and pull it out straight.
- Save the tick in a sealed bag or container in case you need to show it to a doctor. However, most times a tick does not need to be tested if the guidelines above are followed.
- Clean the bite with soap and water.
See symptoms?
- If you see a rash (especially a bull's-eye) or feel sick (fever, aches) seek evaluation right away. The sooner treatment is initiated, the better.

Remember, catching Lyme disease early means preventing long term consequences down the road! Enjoy the outdoors this summer—and keep tick-smart! 😊