Lyme disease is contracted when a human or pet is bitten by an infected blacklegged tick. This disease can cause serious side effects which the Center for Disease Control lists as the following:

The CDC also said if the disease is left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. However, most cases of Lyme disease can be treated with an antibiotic over the course of a few weeks.

To reduce the risk of contracting this tick-borne illness, please see our tips for protecting against ticks.