In the news, one of the tabloid-famous Olsen twins, Ashley, has been diagnosed with a long-standing Lyme Disease 
infection. Apparently infected by a tick bite some years ago, Ashley didn’t receive treatment at the time (antibiotics are effective if used early) and is likely to suffer long-term effects.
Indeed, we’re coming upon the time of year that ticks are out in force, and giving one of these nasty little critters a ride is a bad idea if you want to stay healthy. The American dog tick carries pathogens for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, carries the microscopic parasite that’s responsible for Lyme Disease and another illness called Babesiosis. Just recently, ticks have been identified as the cause for a new illness that causes a flu-like syndrome.
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Borrelia. The most common sign of infection is (continue reading)