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Which states have the highest rates of Lyme disease?

Category: Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, an infection that comes from deer tick bites, causes a wide array of symptoms and can be difficult to treat. While it can be diagnosed through lab tests, knowing where it is most prevalent can allow for steps to be taken to avoid exposure.

Delaware and Vermont
Delaware and Vermont have the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that Delaware had 84 confirmed cases for every 100,000 residents in 2011, while Vermont had 76 cases per 100,000 people in the same year. Now, the CDC estimated that rates for the disease may be up to 10 times higher than those that are diagnosed using Lyme disease tests. While there are approximately 30,000 cases diagnosed each year, the actual rates of the disease could be up to 300,000 per year.

Experts cited the large numbers of hunters and hikers as the reason behind the high rates of Lyme disease in Delaware and Vermont. Those in the woods should be sure to take precautions and use insect repellent, as well as tuck pants into socks to ensure that potentially infected ticks are not able to reach the skin.

Lyme disease
Anyone who spends time in the woods should check afterward to ensure that no deer ticks have latched on. For an infection to spread, a tick usually needs to be attached for a period of more than 24 hours, so checking is vital, according to Delaware Online. A bite from an infected tick will usually result in a rash shaped like a bull's-eye after a few days.

Lyme disease can cause a wide variety of chronic conditions and is found across the Untied States. While more common in the Northeast, Lyme disease infections can be found as far south as South Carolina. One New Augusta, S.C., resident had Lyme disease for nearly 10 years before realizing what it was. The disease was originally treated as a spider bite, and adequate blood tests were not performed since the bites are so rare, according to local CBS affiliate WRDW.

For those looking to be sure of a Lyme disease diagnosis, a lab test online may be the best option. Once the disease has been diagnosed, treatment can begin that can help to prevent or greatly reduce chronic symptoms.