How do ticks cause Lyme disease?
Not all ticks carry Lyme disease . Even with a bite from an infected tick, there is only a small chance of getting Lyme disease. Ticks feed on blood by inserting their mouth (not their whole bodies) into the skin of a person or an animal. They are slow feeders so it takes time before the bacteria can be transmitted to your blood. Ticks are most likely to transmit infection after being attached for at least two days of feeding. A complete blood meal can take several days. As they feed, the tick’s body slowly enlarges, making it more easily seen. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within 1-2 weeks, but can be as short as 3 days and as long as a month after a tick bite. See your doctor if you develop these symptoms and tell him/her when and where you were bitten by a tick : fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, fatigue and a skin rash, especially one that looks like a red “bull’s eye” (called erythema migrans). Treatment In most circumstances in Ontario, anti
