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Maria, there is no need to be paranoid.

The best protocol? Wear long pants (with socks tucked over the pant leg) if you will be outdoors, especially when on the lawn or in brush-like areas. Seriously, these small creatures know what they are seeking, and they're out for blood!

If you have a dog or cat, inspect the cutie when he or she comes in, and do not let him/her jump on your bed. Unfortunately, I pulled two ticks off my body when resting in bed several years back. I believe the pests were carried there by my dog.

Outside of being cautious, enjoy! Life is too short not to enjoy.

Oh no, another reason to be be paranoid. Now I'm going to be certain that every little mark is from a tick bite. We've got a lot of ticks up here. The good thing is I'm almost entirely ignored by insects. I guess my blood isn't tasty enough for them.

Yes, Cher, there are many parts of the body that Lyme disease or its co-infections can invade. Interestingly, I recently read an article that states the CDC said Lyme disease may be ten times more common than previously reported. The Northeast is particularly affected, but this disease has reared its head in all fifty states. In fact, people are 300 times more likely to get Lyme than West Nile. Ouch!

And, the really disturbing part? The symptoms tend to vary from person to person. For example, some may get skin eruptions, others--joint pain, others--headaches, etc. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose because it imitates other conditions (not to mention current Lyme tests produce a fair number of false negatives).

In short, not fun.

Marie, I know a few people who suffer with Lyme. You are right, the insiduous part about this illness is that it can be mistaken for other conditions (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, MS, ALS, Parkinson's disease, dementia, pulmonary problems, depression, cardiac issues, viruses). Some people experience skin lesions that resemble rosacea and eczema, and others do not. Some people are extremely ill and mostly confined to bed, and others have only slight to moderate symptoms. Actually, it's quite perplexing.

The bottom line? If multiple bodily systems seem to be producing symptoms, seek out a Lyme-literate medical professional for an evaluation.

That is truly scary. Another disease ticks can transmit is Lyme disease; Lyme disease may also affect the skin. After a person is bitten, a round rash may appear around the bite site. However, this is not always the case; sometimes nothing occurs at the bite site. Diffuse rashes can also manifest because of Lyme, and tiny scars may be left behind. [br][br]Lyme disease is no joke. The bacteria can invade different systems, so it sometimes mimics other conditions. When this happens, a correct diagnosis is delayed. Subsequently, widespread damage can set in.[br] [br]In sum, always have odd marks on the skin checked out.

Unfortunately, many people who are bitten by ticks do not know it. Ticks can transmit different types of diseases, and one of them is bartonella. A common symptom of bartonella is odd streaking or scarring on the skin (some people say the lines actually look like stretch marks). Because of this, please do not dismiss odd marks if you begin getting them; they actually could be an indication of something serious. Fortunately, when properly treated, bartonella can usually be controlled or even cured.