What Is Lyme?

Question: What Is Lyme?

A disease can be named after the researcher who discovered it. Sjogren's syndrome is an example of that. Other diseases get their name from symptoms or characteristics of the disease -- for example, psoriatic arthritis.

So how did Lyme disease get its name? What is Lyme?

Answer: Lyme, short for Lyme disease, is named after the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, where the first cases were recognized in 1975. According to the American College of Rheumatology, Lyme "occurs mostly in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic States from Virginia northward, the upper Midwest and, to a lesser degree, in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest region."

People most at risk for developing Lyme spend time outdoors in rural or suburban areas in the aforementioned regions. Late spring and early summer months are most common for Lyme infection. Another wave of Lyme occurs in the fall.

What You Should Know About Lyme

Fast Facts About Lyme Disease
Learn about Lyme symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevalence and more.

Lyme Disease Photo Gallery
Ticks are known vectors for the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease. The photo gallery shows the ticks, spirochetes, and other aspects of Lyme disease.

What Is Chronic Lyme Disease?
There are two camps when it comes to discussing chronic Lyme disease. One believes there is such a condition while the other questions its existence. What is chronic Lyme disease? Is chronic Lyme disease the same as late-stage Lyme disease?

Lyme Disease Screening Quiz
Check if you have symptoms of Lyme -- but this is not replacement for a complete evaluation from your doctor.

Test Your Knowledge - Lyme Disease
There's a lot to learn about Lyme. Test yourself -- see how much you know about Lyme.

_Source:

_{Lyme Disease. American College of Rheumatology. Robert Kalish, MD. June 2008
http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/lymedisease.asp?aud=pat}