What can be done to prevent the infection?

People can prevent Lyme disease by avoiding tick bites. Here are several tips to help avoid tick bites.

Some individuals should consider getting immunized with a new vaccine that appears to be effective in preventing Lyme disease. The vaccine is given to individuals aged 15 to 70 years in three separate injections. People in areas where Lyme disease is very common will find it of greatest use. The vaccine does not always work, though, so people still need to follow the other protective measures.

A recent study has shown that a single dose of the antibiotic doxycycline, taken right after a bite from a deer tick, is highly effective in preventing Lyme disease. Researchers recommend limiting this antibiotic prevention to people in high-risk areas who have had a tick attached to their skin for a day or two. It should not be given to pregnant women or children under the age of 8 years.

What are the long-term effects of the infection?

Untreated Lyme disease may cause permanent disabilities from arthritis, meningitis, stroke, and nerve damage.

What are the risks to others?

Lyme disease is not directly contagious from person to person. However, people with untreated Lyme disease can pass it on by donating blood. A pregnant woman with Lyme disease can pass the infection to her unborn child.