Lyme disease is a debilitating illness which is spread by ticks. Doctors Health Press reported on Jan. 18, 2016, ticks which carry Lyme disease are spreading across the United States and Canada. It therefore appears that more Americans will suffer from this tick-borne illness in the future. Ticks that can carry Lyme disease are presently found in about 50 percent of counties in the United States. In 1998 Lyme disease carrying ticks were found in only 30 percent of counties.

The CDC states that there has also been an unbelievable 320 percent increase in the number of counties in the Northeast which are now considered to be at high risk for Lyme disease. It appears that the increase in the spread of Lyme disease ticks may offer an explanation of why Lyme disease cases have been on the rise. Since the 1990s cases of Lyme disease have tripled with about 300,000 Americans being diagnosed with the disease every year.

The cause of Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a bacterium that is spread via tick bites. This illness causes flu-like symptoms which include fevers, headaches, and fatigue. Generally Lyme can be successfully treated with antibiotics. However if there is progression of the disease it can cause much more serious symptoms which include fatigue which is debilitating, brain inflammation, and impairment of memory.

The CDC reports that the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted to people via the bite of infected blacklegged ticks therefore causing Lyme disease. Along with headache,fever, and fatigue there is a characteristic skin rash which is called erythema migrans with this condition. If Lyme disease is not treated properly with antibiotics it can spread to the nervous system, joints, and heart. It is clearly advisable to attempt to prevent exposure to ticks and to have them removed quickly if they are found on your body.