What to Know About Lyme Disease on Long Island

Tick season has arrived on Long Island, and with it comes the risk of contracting a tick-borne illness. The most common – and possibly most dreaded – of these is Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites. Characterized by flu-like symptoms and a distinctive bullseye rash, Lyme disease can cause debilitating long-term health effects.

Is There Lyme Disease on Long Island?

A Columbia University study estimates that 56 percent of ticks on Long Island are carrying Lyme disease. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services believes those percentages may be even higher in eastern Suffolk County, particularly along the north and south shores where Lyme-carrying black legged ticks (also known as deer ticks) are plentiful.

How Common Is Lyme Disease in NY?

Because many people with mild cases of Lyme disease are either unaware that they have been exposed or don’t seek medical treatment, it’s difficult to get exact figures of how prevalent Lyme disease is in the state. Suffolk County alone reports approximately 500 confirmed cases each year. Estimates of unreported cases are significantly higher.

Regardless, if you have been bitten by a tick then the chances are greater than 50/50 that it carries Lyme. After any tick bite, it’s important to identify the species that bit you and to watch for signs you may have been exposed.

How Serious Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease infections vary in severity. If treated early, they are typically cured with a two-to-four-week course of oral antibiotics. However, some individuals experience symptoms that linger for months after the initial infection.

Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome is when pain, fatigue, and brain fog last for six months or more after treatment for a Lyme disease infection. The consequences may be even more serious for those whose initial infection goes untreated. These individuals may develop late-stage Lyme disease that leads to permanent neurological damage and lifelong health issues.

What Are the Early Signs of Lyme Disease?

Early signs of Lyme disease typically include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache, joint and muscle pain, fever and chills, and a red bump at the site of the bite. Many people develop a bullseye-shaped rash around the bite.

What Are the Stages of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease has three stages:

• Stage one is localized Lyme disease, where the bacteria remain near the bite and hasn’t spread throughout the body.
• Stage two is called early disseminated Lyme disease, when bacteria has begun to spread.
• Stage three, or late disseminated Lyme disease, occurs when the bacteria has spread throughout the body.

Most cases of stage one Lyme disease resolve within weeks when treated promptly with antibiotics. Outcomes become progressively worse further into stage two or three, and may take months or years to clear, often leaving permanent damage. This is why prompt, early intervention is important.

If you have any reason to believe you have been exposed to Lyme disease, consult your doctor immediately.

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