How do you get Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and it is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern and north central United States and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) in the Pacific coastal states, are the primary vectors for the transmission of the bacteria to humans.

The tick will become infected with the bacteria by feeding on infected small mammals, such as white-footed mice. The tick then can transmit the bacteria to humans and other animals through its bite. The tick usually needs to be attached for at least 36 to 48 hours before it can transmit the bacteria. It's important to note that not all tick bites result in infection, so not everyone who gets bitten by an infected tick will develop Lyme disease.

It's important to take preventive measures to avoid tick bites, such as wearing protective clothing, using tick repellent, and doing tick checks after spending time in wooded or grassy areas. It's also important to remove a tick as soon as possible if you find one attached to your skin, by using fine-tipped tweezers and pulling it straight out.


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Our job at Patients Medical is to connect the dots between a patient's medical history, symptoms, and their underlying causes. Patients Medical is a superb place for people to secure integrative and holistic health care from providers who give personalized care, partner with the patient to focus on the root cause of their illness, support their recovery, and help them maintain good health.

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