Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is a vector-borne infectious illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged (Ixodes) ticks. It is most common in wooded and grassy areas where ticks thrive. Early symptoms often include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a characteristic expanding skin rash known as erythema migrans. If untreated, Lyme disease can progress to involve the joints, heart, and nervous system, leading to arthritis, neurological symptoms, and cardiac complications. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, exposure history, and laboratory testing. Lyme disease is usually treatable with antibiotics, especially when identified early. From a public health perspective, prevention focuses on tick control, personal protective measures, environmental management, and public awareness. Climate change and expanding tick habitats have increased disease risk, highlighting the need for surveillance, education, and early intervention to reduce long-term health consequences.