How Do I Watch for Lyme Disease After Removing a Tick?
I found a tick on my daughter’s arm last night. I pulled it off, but I have no idea how long it had been there, as she plays outside every day. What should I do? How do I tell if the tick gave her Lyme disease? – Mara Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted primarily by deer ticks. In the United States, Lyme disease typically occurs in the Northeast, Northwest, and parts of the upper Midwest. So where you live (or travel) and what type of tick you find will help determine if your child is at risk of developing Lyme disease. Not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. And a tick that is infected has to be attached to a person’s skin for at least 24 to 48 hours before it can transmit that bacteria. Since you don’t know how long the tick was attached, watch for signs that your child may be developing the illness. Most kids who have Lyme disease develop the characteristic bull’s-eye rash. A couple of days after the tick bi
