What it means
Named after Lyme, the town in Connecticut where it was first studied. In the US it is spread by blacklegged (deer) ticks. Early on it often causes a spreading red rash, sometimes shaped like a bull's-eye, with flu-like illness; if untreated, it can spread to the joints, heart and nerves. It is treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline.
For the nurse
Teach tick prevention: insect repellent, long sleeves and pants in wooded areas, and checking the skin after being outdoors. Remove a tick with fine tweezers held close to the skin, pulling straight up with steady pressure.
At a glance
| Spanish | enfermedad de Lyme |
|---|---|
| Also written | Lyme |
Related terms
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.