Lyme (disease) has been a problem in Texas for decades, but the risk is growing

"Ticks aren’t considered as much of a problem in Texas as they are elsewhere, most experts note.

But that doesn’t mean you should ignore the little biters.

And there are those who say the problems they can cause are much worse than most realize.

“Lyme (disease) has been a problem in Texas for decades, but the risk is growing,” Patricia Ricks, secretary of the Texas Lyme disease Association, said in an email.

Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme is transmitted to humans through the bite of certain ticks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans, according to the CDC. 

According to the CDC, patients treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover “rapidly and completely.” 

“But if it is allowed to advance, many patients become chronically ill,” Ricks said."

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/jun/11/lyme-disease-among-the-reasons-you-should-be-off/