A Q and A on Lyme Disease and Ticks
Lyme Disease and Ticks: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
A bacterial infection spread by the bite of infected blacklegged (deer) ticks.
Key takeaways
- Tick that spreads it: blacklegged (deer) tick
- Attachment usually needed to spread infection: 36 to 48 hours or more
- Most useful single change: Use an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone.
- Commonest mistake: Using nail polish, petroleum jelly or heat to make a tick detach.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Lyme Disease and Ticks?
A bacterial infection spread by the bite of infected blacklegged (deer) ticks.
Why does it matter?
Caught early it is usually treated with a short course of antibiotics, but missed infections can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.
Tick that spreads it for Lyme Disease and Ticks?
Blacklegged (deer) tick.
Attachment usually needed to spread infection for Lyme Disease and Ticks?
36 to 48 hours or more.
Typical rash for Lyme Disease and Ticks?
An expanding red rash in about 70 to 80% of infections, 3 to 30 days after the bite.
Highest-risk regions for Lyme Disease and Ticks?
The Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Use an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone.
What is the most common mistake?
Using nail polish, petroleum jelly or heat to make a tick detach.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor if you develop a rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue or joint aches in the weeks after a tick bite, and tell them where you have been. Call 911 for chest pain, fainting, a very slow or irregular heartbeat, or sudden weakness or drooping of the face.
More questions, answered
Does every tick bite need treatment?
No. Most tick bites do not cause infection, especially if the tick was attached for a short time or was not a blacklegged tick. Watch for symptoms and contact your doctor if a rash or fever develops.
Can I get Lyme disease more than once?
Yes. Having Lyme disease does not give lasting immunity. People in high-risk areas can be infected again, so continue preventive habits.
Is there a Lyme disease vaccine?
A vaccine was available for a short time in the past but was withdrawn by the manufacturer. New vaccines are being studied. For now, prevention depends on avoiding bites.
Can I get Lyme disease from my dog?
Dogs do not spread Lyme disease directly to people, but they can carry ticks into the home. Using veterinarian-recommended tick prevention and checking pets reduces this risk.
What does a Lyme rash look like?
It is usually a red or reddish area that expands over days. It may look like a bull's-eye, but many are solid. On darker skin it may look like a bruise or be harder to see. Take a photo and show your doctor.
Are ticks active in winter?
Adult blacklegged ticks can be active on warmer winter days. Nymphs are most active in spring and summer. Keep up tick checks whenever you spend time outdoors in tick habitats.
Related topics
- The Evidence on Antibiotics, Without the Hype (Immunity)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Malaria Prevention (Travel Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Athlete's Foot (Foot Health)
- Common Childhood Infections: What the Evidence Actually Says (Children's Health)
Where to go next
- Lyme Disease and Ticks: Separating Myth From Guidance
- Lyme Disease and Ticks: A Beginner-Friendly Start
- Lyme Disease and Ticks — the reference entry
- Infectious Diseases: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes, Without the Hype
- What the Guidance Really Says About Norovirus
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor if you develop a rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue or joint aches in the weeks after a tick bite, and tell them where you have been. Call 911 for chest pain, fainting, a very slow or irregular heartbeat, or sudden weakness or drooping of the face.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
