Who is affected by Lyme disease?
Anyone can develop Lyme disease, and the incidence of Lyme disease is on the rise in the United States. In 2002, over 23,000 cases were reported in the U.S. alone.1 Lyme disease is also frequently reported in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
You are at greatest risk of developing Lyme disease from a tick bite if you:
- Live in areas within the U.S. that are heavily infested with ticks that carry Lyme disease, such as the Northeast, from Massachusetts to Virginia; the upper Midwest, especially Wisconsin and Minnesota; and the West coast, particularly northern California and parts of Oregon.
- Are between the ages of 5 to 9 years or 50 to 59 years, perhaps due to greater exposure to infected ticks and less use of protective measures.
The risk of Lyme disease is highest during the spring and summer (May through August), when ticks are most active and people spend more time outdoors.
Lyme disease is most common among young children and those who work or reside in wooded areas, because they are more likely to spend time outdoors in tick-infested areas. However, even in areas where Lyme disease occurs most often, very few tick bites lead to Lyme disease.
| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: September 21, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology | |
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