Episode Details

Tick bites and concerns about Lyme disease are increasing, especially during warmer months. In this episode of Health Matters, host Courtney Allison speaks with Dr. Laura Kirkman and Dr. Karen Acker of NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medicine, and NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York about what people should know about ticks and Lyme disease.

Dr. Kirkman explains the types of ticks found in the U.S., where they live, and how they attach to the body. She emphasizes that not every tick bite leads to Lyme disease—it depends on the tick species, whether it carries the bacteria, and how long it remains attached.

Dr. Acker explains how Lyme disease is transmitted and outlines the stages of infection, including early symptoms such as the characteristic bullseye rash, fever, and fatigue, as well as less common complications involving the nervous system, heart, or joints.

The conversation also covers how Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated, including when testing is necessary and when a preventive dose of antibiotics may be recommended after a tick bite.

Finally, the doctors share practical strategies to prevent tick bites—from tick checks and proper clothing to repellents and safe tick removal—and discuss emerging concerns like lone star ticks and alpha-gal syndrome. Their key message: with awareness and simple precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk.

Chapters

00:00 – Understanding Ticks and Their Risks
Overview of tick species, where they live, and how they interact with humans

04:30 – What Is Lyme Disease?
How Lyme disease is transmitted, early symptoms, and stages of infection

08:45 – Diagnosis, Treatment, and Tick Removal
When to test for Lyme disease, antibiotic options, and how to safely remove a tick

12:00 – Preventing Tick Bites and Emerging Concerns
Prevention strategies, protecting kids and pets, and lone star tick risks

Key Topics Covered

Tick species in the U.S.
Where ticks live and how they attach
Lyme disease transmission
Early symptoms of Lyme disease
Bullseye rash and warning signs
Diagnosis and antibody testing
Antibiotic treatment and prevention
Proper tick removal techniques
Tick bite prevention strategies
Lone star tick and alpha-gal syndrome

Takeaway Message

A tick bite does not automatically mean Lyme disease. By checking for ticks regularly, removing them promptly, and using simple prevention strategies, you can significantly reduce your risk. When caught early, Lyme disease is highly treatable—making awareness and prevention your best tools for staying safe outdoors.

Doctor Bios

Dr. Laura Kirkman is a physician-scientist whose research focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of infection with bloodborne parasitic diseases: malaria and babesiosis. Dr. Kirkman received her M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine with distinction in research where she benefitted from support from a Howard Hughes Medical Student research award. She completed her clinical training in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital and her infectious disease fellowship at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is an associate professor of medicine and microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Dr. Karen Acker is a pediatric hospital epidemiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York, and an assistant profe