Dr. Desiree M. Webb, MD

Treatment can include stimulant medications and behavioral therapy to teach patients ways to navigate their world and control symptoms better. In addition to treatment, accommodations at school or work can greatly help people with ADHD improve their productivity and confidence. A structured environment (with lots of organization and well-defined rules) seems to help most children with ADHD function at their best.

ADHD is mainly thought of as a disorder that affects children, but symptoms can last into adulthood for many. In adults, ADHD has similar symptoms as when it is seen in children: impulsive behavior and difficulty maintaining focus. These symptoms can cause problems in both careers and relationships. Additionally, adults with ADHD are at increased risk for substance abuse. Medications can be an important part of treatment for adults, as well as learning stress reduction techniques and organization skills. Specialized ADHD coaches can help adults with ADHD manage their symptoms and thrive in life.

• Blacklegged (deer) ticks, which spread Lyme disease in the Northeastern, North -Central, and mid-Atlantic United States.
• Western blacklegged ticks, which spread Lyme disease in the Pacific and Coastal regions of the United States.
• A mother infected with Lyme disease may pass it onto a fetus.

As background, ticks lay on the tops of grass and brush, clutching onto leaves with their legs and with their arms outstretched. This formation is called "questing" and allows ticks to quickly latch onto passers-by. Within two hours of biting a person's skin, the tick slowly begins to feed from the blood of its host, which can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. This tick activity generally occurs seasonally and tick bites mostly occur during the springtime.

After being infected, people with Lyme disease may develop symptoms like fever, exhaustion, headache, joint aches, and skin rash, usually three to thirty days after the tick bite. Lyme disease is characterized by a particular skin rash called erythema migrans, which is an enlarged red rash that starts at the site of the tick bite and expands outwards. The rash is a strong indicator that someone has developed or is at risk of developing Lyme disease.

In the following few months, symptoms may worsen and progress to include:

• Facial palsy (facial droop)
• Headache and neck pain
• Arthritis
• Nerve pain and numbness
• Spinal and brain inflammation
• Abnormal heart rhythm (Lyme carditis)

Most cases of Lyme disease dissipate over a few months. Lyme disease may be cured by a course of oral antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or doxycycline. Other treatments may include:

• Nerve blocking drugs for pain, such as gabapentin
• Topical ointments for rashes

People can take action to prevent Lyme disease by exercising caution when in environments with ticks. Using insect repellant and wearing long socks and protecting clothing can help prevent tick bites. Outdoor enthusiasts should regularly perform "tick checks," evaluating their skin for small ticks, especially in areas where ticks may easily burrow. Showering within two hours of returning indoors also can reduce the likelihood of developing Lyme disease.