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Wisconsin’s reputation as a haven for Lyme disease remains unshaken: The state Department of Health is reporting that the number of cases reported in the state jumped 35 percent last year. Lyme disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose and can lead to painful complications if left untreated.

In 2010, 3,495 cases of Lyme disease were recorded in Wisconsin, including 2,510 “confirmed” cases and 985 “probable” ones. In 2009, there were 2,587 cases, including 1948 confirmed ones and 636 that were deemed probable.

Lyme disease is most commonly contracted from a deer tick bite. These ticks are smaller than the more common wood ticks and have black legs. Because of their miniscule size, they can be difficult to spot until they have engorged themselves on blood, and the disease may not show up until the Lyme infection has caused the telltale red “bullseye” rash surrounding the bite.

Early Lyme symptoms resemble those for more common infectious diseases, such as influenza. They include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain. Long-term effects include arthritis and neurological complications.

If caught early, Lyme can typically be cured with antibiotics.  How long that course of medication lasts is subject of some debate. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends a single dose administered with 72 hours of removing a deer tick that was attached for at least 36 hours.

As reported in NewsBuzz, a recent paper in the Wisconsin Medical Journal by Elizabeth Maloney, a Minneapolis-based Lyme disease educator, called for administering a full 20-day cycle of antibiotics. IDSA has opposed recommending a longer regimen because of possible side effects, but the paper argues these risks are insignificant compared to the risk of Lyme.

Some patients claim to suffer effects from the disease that last months or even years. Many medical experts say they doubt the existence of a chronic form of Lyme. The CDC has speculated that long-term ill effects may be the result of an auto-immune disorder, an immune system malfunction.

The state Department of Health recommends avoiding wooded and bushy areas where ticks are most common. Insect repellent is effective for deterring the tiny insects.

If walking through underbrush or wooded areas, the department recommends tucking your pants into your boots. Regular checks for ticks, particularly in the head, scalp, armpit and groin areas and behind the knees, are also recommended.

According to a 2009 ranking by the CDC, Wisconsin has the ninth highest incidence of Lyme disease in the country behind several states in the Northeast, but the Badger State leads the Midwest.

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