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Reducing Your Risk of Lyme Disease

Authors:
  • Amy Scholten, MPH
Publication Type:

Condition InDepth

Reducing Your Risk of Lyme Disease

To reduce the risk of Lyme disease:

  • Stay away from places where ticks are often found—such as fields with brush and/or tall grass.
  • Wear light-colored clothing. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeve shirts.
  • Apply (EPA-approved) tick repellent to clothes and exposed skin.
  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.
  • Check for and remove ticks. Remove them properly. Use tweezers, if possible. Then clean the bite site.
  • Report any tick bite to the doctor. Some doctors give antibiotics within 72 hours of a tick bite—in a high-risk area. This can reduce the risk of Lyme disease.
  • Check for signs of Lyme disease—such as a rash or fever within 30 days of the bite. Report any signs to the doctor.

References

  • Lyme disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/lyme-disease. Accessed November 11, 2021.
  • Lyme disease. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease. Accessed November 11, 2021.
  • Personal protection. Lyme Disease website. Available at: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/ticks/personal-protection. Accessed November 11, 2021..
  • Preventing tick bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/index.html. Accessed November 11, 2021.

Contributors

  • David L. Horn, MD
Last Updated:
2021-11-01

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.