Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, that’s the reason for why the disease is called the tick bite disease or Lyme. This bacterium is usually seen in animals such as mice and deer. Ixodes ticks can carry the bacteria when biting an infected animal, then one can transmit to humans, which can be Lyme disease. In the following lines, you'll find out more things about Lyme's disease, about symptoms of Lymes disease, but, more important, you'll find out how you can protect against this disease. 

-Who is the agent of Lyme disease spread?
Ticks! Ticks live in grass and shrubs and attach an animal passing near them, called the host. Ticks are small and can be hard to see with the naked eye. Young ticks, or nymphs, are the size of poppy seeds.

-Signs and symptoms of Lymes disease:
Lyme disease can affect the skin, joints, nervous system and other systems or organs. Symptoms and their severity vary from person to person. Symptoms of Lyme disease are often described in three separate stages of the disease, although not all patients pass through all stages:

• The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash called erythema migration, which occurs 1-2 weeks after infection but can occur within 30 days after tick bite. This rash often has a characteristic target appearance with a central red dot surrounded an area of clean skin, in turn surrounded by a red zone that extends. May appear as a solid red ring extending. Area may be warm to the touch and usually is not painful, not so itchy. Hives shaped target may be more difficult to observe in people who have darker skin, which may look like a bruising. Hives usually go in about a month. Although this rash is considered typical of Lyme disease, there are many patients who do not present this symptom of Lyme disease.

• Together with the hives, the infected person may have flu-like symptoms as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache and muscle aches.  If it’s left untreated, initial symptoms may go away. But on some people, infection can spread to other parts of the body. At this stage of Lyme disease, symptoms usually appear within weeks after the tick bite, even in people who have had hives page. Some persons may feel very tired and very bad, or have hives in several areas, different on sting place.

Lyme disease can affect the heart, which can lead to irregular heartbeat or chest pain. Can spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell's palsy) or tingling and numbness of the arms and legs. May start to cause headache and stiff neck that can be considered symptoms of meningitis. Swelling and pain may occur in the larger joints of the body.