Lyme disease difficult to diagnose

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria transferred to humans by a deer tick. Symptoms include a rash, fever, fatigue, and headache. Left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in the states where Lyme Disease is most common (northeastern and northern mid-west states) there is an average of 31.6 diagnosed cases for every 100,000 people.

Despite its prevalence, Lyme Disease can be difficult to diagnose. The symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Once diagnosed, most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.

If you're going to be in an area where exposure to deer ticks is likely, the American College of Physicians offers the following tips for prevention:

• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to minimize skin exposure to ticks.
• Tuck your pants into your socks to form a barrier to tick attachment.
• Wear light-colored clothing to help see ticks on your clothing.
• Check for ticks, looking particularly for what may look like nothing more than a new freckle or speck of dirt.