Families are spending more time away from the urban environment now that schools are out for the summer and the potential for exposure to “diseases in nature” is more likely. One of those diseases is Lyme disease. The illness is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a spirochetal bacterium that was named for a town in Connecticut where it was first described in 1976. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick or flea. The incubation period is three to 32 days. In Texas, the tick most likely to carry the disease is the Lone Star tick, which can grow to the size of a watermelon seed.

There are three stages to the illness that may overlap or occur independently. The first presents with flu like symptoms. In addition to the “flu-like” symptoms, approximately 35 percent of infected people develop a characteristic skin rash, which is red around the bite. It may expand to a diameter of 14 inches with a lighter area in the center. Secondary skin rashes can also occur and reoccur. These may vary in appearance from one time to the next.

The second stage involves the nervous system and/or the heart. People may experience sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, double vision and numbness or weakness in the extremities or face. Others may have rapid or irregular heart beat.

The third stage involves the joints and nervous system. About 60 percent will develop arthritis and about 10 percent of the cases will have chronic arthritis. Other patients may develop neurological symptoms such as chronic fatigue, psychiatric problems or multiple sclerosis-like symptoms.

To help protect yourself and your family: 1) keep your pets free of fleas and ticks; 2) wear light colored clothing so ticks can be seen; 3) tuck pant legs into boots or socks when out in high grass or wooded areas; 4) use approved insect repellant; and 5) inspect yourself and your children frequently. If you think you have Lyme disease, see your doctor immediately. Treatment is more successful when started early.