Erythema Migrans Rash

Lyme disease was first described in the United States in 1975, after two concerned mothers in Old Lyme, Connecticut, reached out to rheumatologists at Yale University regarding an influx of pediatric arthritis in their community. A surveillance study in 1976 led to the realization of a connection between the deer tick population, east of the Connecticut River, and the development of the telltale erythema migrans rash. In 1978, the vector tick carrier was confirmed, and thus, the mystery of the development of Lyme disease was uncovered. However, Lyme disease continues to pose a conundrum to providers, patients and researchers. As the most widely reported vector-borne illness in the U.S., Lyme disease presents an opportunity for education and improvement in prompt diagnosis and treatment.