According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 after researchers investigated why unusually large numbers of children were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Lyme, Connecticut, and two neighboring towns. The researchers found that tiny deer ticks infected with a spiral-shaped bacterium or spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) were responsible for the outbreak of arthritis in Lyme.
The first symptom of Lyme disease is usually a red rash known as erythema migrans, often accompanied by flu-like symptoms. There can also be other consequences of Lyme disease including arthritis, neurological symptoms, heart problems, and more.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Public Health Image Library (PHIL)
