Page 70 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
story by Nickie Harris-Ray
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT
LYME DISEASE
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the These secondary lesions are similar to the primary one but
United States and Europe. In the U.S., reports most likely stem from cases from the mid-Atlantic, northeastern, and north- central regions. Research shows that ticks must feed for 24-36 hours or longer to transmit infections, and most cases are reported during the spring and summer months.
In Stage 1, you experience an early localized infection. About a week after a tick bite, a flat or slightly raised red lesion may appear at the bite site, often in areas covered by tight clothing, such as the groin, thigh, or axilla.
This lesion typically expands over several days. While it may initially present as a lesion often described as a “bull’s-eye,” it can also have
a more uniform appearance or even a central intensification. You might also feel symptoms similar to a viral illness, often referred to as the “summer flu,” which includes myalgias, arthralgias, headache, and fatigue. Fever may or may not be present.
Stage 2 represents early disseminated infection, and up
to 50-60 percent of cases might
be bacteremic. Within days to weeks of the original infection, secondary skin lesions may develop.
usually smaller. You may also experience malaise, fatigue, fever, headache, neck pain, and generalized body aches alongside the skin lesions.
In Stage 3 late persistent infection, the symptoms can manifest months to years after the initial infection, primarily affecting your musculoskeletal, neurologic, and skin systems. The classic late manifestation of the disease is articular arthritis, which most often impacts the knee or other large weight-bearing joints.
These joints may be significantly swollen, but you might report less pain compared to those with bacterial septic arthritis. Even if left untreated, this arthritis typically resolves within a few weeks to months.
Antibiotic treatments like Tetracycline can effectively treat the spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Unfortunately, there isn’t a human vaccine currently available. To significantly reduce your risk of tick bites, take preventive measures like avoiding tick-infested areas, covering exposed skin with long sleeves, tucking long trousers into socks, wearing light-colored clothing, using repellents, and inspecting your skin for ticks after exposure.
70 | November 2025
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