Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria. This is transmitted to an individual by a black-legged tick that usually infects deer. The tick becomes infected after feeding on infected mice or deer. The ticks latches on an individual’s skin for a period of one to two days and eventually causes the condition. Many people who are detected with Lyme disease do not have any memory of a tick bite. This disease was reported for the first time in 1975 in Old Lyme town in Connecticut.

1. Diagnosing lyme disease

The diagnosis of Lyme disease commences with a physical examination and assessment of one’s medical history. Blood tests, however, prove to be more effective a few weeks after the initial infection as antibodies may be present. To get a clear diagnosis, the doctors recommended the following tests:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  PCR is used to examine people with symptoms in the nervous symptoms or Lyme arthritis. It is conducted on the spinal fluid or joint fluid.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  ELISA is used to detect antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Western blot
  It can be helpful to determine if the ELISA test is positive. It analyzes the evidence of antibodies that are specific to the proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi.

3. Prevention of Lyme disease
The best Lyme disease prevention tip is to avoid locations where deer ticks reside. These areas include busy, wooded regions with long grass. You can reduce the risk of this disease by following a few methods.

• Make use of insect repellents
  Applying an insect repellent that has 20 percent or more of DEET concentration would prove to be quite helpful when it comes to Lyme disease prevention. If you have kids, then you should apply the repellent but spare their mouth, eyes, and hands. Remember that chemical repellents can be quite toxic. Hence, you must follow the directions carefully.
• Ensure you tick-proof the yard
  You must clear leaves and bushes as ticks live in them. Also, you must stack wood properly in sunny and dry areas and mow the lawn on a regular basis in order to discourage rodents that carry the ticks.
• Remove a tick at the earliest with the help of tweezers
  You must gently grasp the tick close to its mouth or head. Do not crush or squeeze the tick, but pull it steadily and carefully. Once you have managed to remove the tick, flush it down the toilet and apply an antiseptic to the bitten area.

Remember that you should not assume that you are immune to this condition. Visit a doctor at the earliest and conduct a few tests to ensure you are safe.