Questions and Answers

Q. How is Lyme disease diagnosed?

A. Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose because many of its symptoms are similar to those of other disorders. The fever, muscle aches, and fatigue of Lyme disease can be mistaken for viral infections, such as the flu. Joint pain can be mistaken for arthritis, and neurologic signs can mimic those caused by other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. In addition, diagnosis can be more difficult if the typical Lyme disease rash was not seen or didn’t happen. Many people can’t recall having been bitten by a tick, because its bite is usually painless.

Your doctor will diagnose you based on your symptoms, medical history and whether you’ve been exposed to a tick. The infection is then confirmed by blood tests. In the first couple of weeks, the test may be negative because antibodies take time to show up.

Q. How is Lyme disease treated?

A. Common antibiotics (such as doxycycline or amoxicillin) are effective at clearing the infection, early symptoms and in helping to prevent the development of complications. If untreated, the disease will progress to a chronic condition in about half of patients. Antibiotics are generally given for up to three weeks. If complications develop, intravenous antibiotics may need to be used to treat the infection.

Q. Is there a vaccine against Lyme disease?

A. There are Lyme disease vaccines available for dogs. Currently, however there is no vaccine available against human Lyme disease. Active research into vaccine development is taking place in Europe and the US, and some candidate vaccines are beginning to show promise.

Q. Can you get Lyme disease from pets?

A. You can't get Lyme disease from your pet. Dogs, cats, cows and horses can become infected with Lyme disease bacteria, but they can't pass it to humans. But infected ticks may fall off your pet and then bite and infect you. Dogs are particularly susceptible to Lyme Disease. Symptoms may not appear for 7-21 days or longer after a tick bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behaviour or appetite. Tick bites on dogs may be hard to detect. If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as you would in a human.

Q. How do I remove an attached tick?

Gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible using a pair of fine tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool
Pull steadily away from your skin without twisting the tick
Wash your skin with warm water and soap afterwards, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.

Q. When you should call your doctor

A. Call your doctor if:

You can’t remove an entire tick from your body.
You develop a circular red rash that grows over several days, particularly if you know you were recently exposed to ticks. You may also have flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, stiff neck, fever, chills, or body aches.
You feel unusually tired, or you have joint pain, with redness and swelling, a severe headache, or neck pain.
You’re pregnant or breastfeeding and you think you may have been exposed to ticks.

The early diagnosis and proper treatment of Lyme disease are important strategies to avoid the complications of late-stage illness. As soon as you notice a characteristic rash or other possible symptoms, consult your health care provider.

Q. What’s the best way to prevent a tick bite?
A. You can lessen your chances of being bitten by a tick by taking a few simple precautions:

Wear long trousers tucked into socks or boots and a long-sleeved shirt in areas with lots of trees.
Wear shoes, not sandals or bare feet, in wooded areas or on grass.
Wear light-coloured fabrics that can help you spot a tick on your clothes.
Walk in the middle of paths and trails, and avoid overgrown vegetation.
Use an insect repellent on your skin and clothing that contains DEET, lemon oil, or eucalyptus.
Inspect your skin for ticks, particularly at the end of the day, including your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, groin, and waistband) – and remove any ticks you find as soon as possible.
Check that your pets do not bring ticks into the home in their fur.