Lyme Disease: the Symptoms and Stages You Need to Know [Infographic]

You can have Lyme disease — and not know it. Learn how to prevent the infection and which symptoms signal short- and long-term trouble.

7:00 AM

Author | Kevin Joy

As nuisances go, ticks are tiny. Most people don't even notice when one lands on them.

But their presence can cause big problems.

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

That's because the pesky bloodsuckers, depending on their species, can carry Lyme disease or other infectious conditions, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks spread disease by biting and then transmitting infectious organisms through their saliva.

Without antibiotic treatment, a tick bite can trigger uncomfortable symptoms.

Fortunately, most people who are bitten by a tick don't contract Lyme disease.

It takes about 36 hours for an infected tick attached to your skin to spread the illness. So the hazard often can be avoided with careful, all-over skin checks and fast removal. Use tweezers to remove wood ticks; scrape off smaller deer (aka blacklegged) ticks with a fingernail or credit card.

You also can help prevent the threat by wearing insect repellent and long-sleeved shirts and pants.

SEE ALSO: Tick Talk: How to Stop (and Remove) Them

To ensure timely detection and treatment, it's important to know the common signs of Lyme disease.

Still, symptoms of infection can surface several days to one month after first contact, making the diagnosis challenging. And in some cases, hallmark signs such as a "bull's-eye" rash (or detection of a tick on the skin) don't appear at all.

Here's what to look for if you suspect Lyme disease:


More Articles About: Wellness & Prevention Lyme Disease infectious disease
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

This article is from the Health Lab digital publication.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories
Health Lab
Tick Talk: How to Stop (and Remove) Them
Check out these tips for tick prevention. Learn the differences between wood and deer ticks and the diseases they carry. Also, tick bite treatments.
woman holding jug purple pink drinking behind her
Health Lab
BORGs: The latest TikTok trend that’s bad for your liver
BORGs, the TikTok trend hurting your liver. A Michigan Medicine liver doctor explains.
pills in hand
Health Lab
Did FDA regulation reduce high rates of opioid-acetaminophen overdoses?
A 2011 FDA mandate to limit acetaminophen in combo opioid products led to a 13% y-o-y reduction in hospitalizations for serious liver injury.
couple with kid and medical bill with doctor
Health Lab
Even with private insurance, your child's hospitalization could cost $1,300
Study reveals privately insured families may spend $1,300 out-of-pocket for child hospitalization. High costs impact family wellbeing warns pediatric expert.
glowy balls images connected light green
Health Lab
Candida auris: The deadly fungus on the rise
The CDC warns of rising infections from Candida auris, a deadly fungus. Learn what you need to know about this emerging threat from U-M Medical School's Dr. Teresa O'Meara.
vaping hand
Health Lab
Would you know if your kid was vaping?
Nearly half of parents in a national poll felt confident they’d know if their child used e-cigarettes. An expert offers four steps to identify and address vaping at home