Every year, 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But according to the CDC, the real number of cases in the United States could be up to 10 times higher.

Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing diseases in the United States. It’s an infectious disease transmitted to humans through tick bites.

These ticks, infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, are most active from April to September. Most cases can be treated and cured with antibiotics.

Here are 7 interesting facts about Lyme disease that you should know.

7 Interesting Facts About Lyme Disease You May Not Have Known

As summer comes near and you start spending more time outdoors, be sure to dress for the season–tick season, that is.

Not only are these facts interesting to keep in mind, but some of them can help keep you and your loved ones safe from infection.

1. You Can Only Get Lyme Disease from a Tick Bite

If someone you know has or has had Lyme disease, you might be wondering: Can Lyme disease be transmitted from person to person?

There’s no evidence that Lyme disease transmits person-to-person. You can only contract the disease from the bite of a tick.

Although you can’t get Lyme disease from another animal, like a dog, your furry friend can still bring infectious ticks into your home or yard. During the summer months, it might be a good idea to check your pet (and yourself) for ticks before entering the house.

2. A Bite Doesn’t Mean You’re Infected

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, it’s not too late to remove it.

A tick has to be attached for at least 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease. You can remove the tick before it’s too late, either with a tick removal device or a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. The goal is to remove the tick as soon as possible–pulling it out slowly so that you remove all of it, including the head.

It’s best to avoid any “folk remedies,” like using nail polish or Vaseline to detach it.

3. Not All Ticks Carry Lyme Disease

Deer ticks, also known as Blacklegged ticks, are the ones you need to avoid. There are ticks all over the United States, but these parasites are concentrated mostly in Northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central Midwest states.

While most Lyme disease cases occur on the East Coast, the Western Blacklegged tick is the greatest threat on the West Coast. Learn more here about the states where Lyme disease is most prevalent.

The primary transmitters of Lyme disease are nymphs, which are adolescent ticks measuring less than 2 millimeters in size. Because of their size, nymphs can go undetected in difficult to reach areas like the scalp, armpits, and groin.

While adult ticks can also transmit the disease, they’re often removed before infection because of their size.

4. Not Everybody Gets the Bull’s Eye Rash

One recognizable characteristic of Lyme disease is the bull’s eye rash that forms on the Lyme disease bite mark, also known as erythema migrans, which appears 3 to 30 days after infection.

As the rash spreads, parts of it clear up, which is what accounts for the bull’s eye shape.

But not all patients notice the rash, and up to 20 or 30% won’t develop the rash at all.

Other Lyme disease symptoms may appear over the course of days or even months after the bite. They include fatigue, headache, joint pain, swelling, dizziness, and memory problems.

5. Lyme Disease Doesn’t Always Go Away

The most effective form of treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics taken within the first two weeks.

But blood tests don’t always pick up on Lyme disease that early, and it can take several weeks for the antibodies to appear in the blood.

Even with treatment, around 10-20% of Lyme disease patients have symptoms that persist after the disease is over. This is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and in some severe cases, chronic Lyme disease.

Symptoms include extended fatigue, vitamin deficiency, joint pain, dizziness, and memory issues for months or even years after infection.

6. Lyme Disease Vaccine was Discontinued

There used to be a vaccine developed to prevent Lyme disease. But in 2002, the manufacturer said that demand for the vaccine was insufficient and production stopped.

Other issues with the vaccine were reported, like the fact that protection given by the vaccine lessened over time. Those who received the vaccine years earlier were no longer immune to Lyme.

Some other vaccine alternatives are reportedly in development.

7. You Can Take Precautions to Prevent Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is notoriously difficult to detect and many cases go undiagnosed and untreated.

Blood tests often show up negative for the first few weeks after infection and not all tests are accurate. In fact, most Lyme disease patients don’t recall ever being bitten by a tick.

Still, there are ways you can try to lessen the chance of infection.

If you’re going outdoors in a grassy or wooded area, especially during tick season, be sure to cover up. Wear long pants and socks if possible, and try to wear lighter colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Spray your clothing and any exposed skin with tick repellent.

As soon as you get inside, check yourself and your pets for any possible ticks, and be sure to wash all clothing regularly.

The Bottom Line

These interesting facts about Lyme disease can offer more than just awareness about the effects of the disease.

Keep these Lyme disease facts in mind the next time you’re out and about during tick season–and if you start feeling any of these symptoms after a bite, see a doctor as soon as possible.

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