Risk Factor Explorer

Interactive exploration of genetic, environmental, infectious, autoimmune, psychosocial, and metabolic risk factors across invisible illnesses.

Cross-Condition Comparison

Risk Factor Radar — Lyme Disease

Modifiable Risk FactorsActionable

Outdoor activity without protective clothing
Lack of tick checks after outdoor exposure
Living near wooded or grassy areas without yard treatment
Delayed antibiotic treatment after tick bite
Pet ownership without tick prevention measures

Non-Modifiable Risk FactorsFixed

Geographic residence in endemic regions (Northeast, Upper Midwest)
HLA-DR4 allele association with post-treatment Lyme
Age (bimodal: children 5-14 and adults 45-64)
Occupational exposure (forestry, agriculture, landscaping)

Risk by Demographics — Lyme Disease

Relative risk scores (0-100) derived from epidemiological prevalence data. Higher scores indicate greater relative risk within that demographic group.

Geographic Risk — Lyme Disease

Highest incidence in the Northeast (Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts) and Upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota). Expanding range due to climate change driving tick migration south and to higher elevations. Rural and suburban fringe areas carry highest risk.

Protective Factors — Lyme Disease

1Early Antibiotic Treatment

Doxycycline within 72 hours of tick attachment reduces infection risk by up to 87%.

2Tick Checks & Removal

Daily full-body tick checks and prompt removal within 24 hours nearly eliminates transmission risk.

3Permethrin-Treated Clothing

Treated clothing reduces tick bites by 73-100% in field studies.

4Yard Management

Clearing leaf litter, creating gravel barriers, and maintaining short grass reduce peridomestic tick exposure.

Explore Related Modules

Risk Predictor

Transparent 4-weight risk index

Surveillance Map

Interactive Lyme disease choropleth

Demographics

Prevalence disparities

Research Insights

Funding gaps & publication trends

Data Sources (3)

CDC. Risk Factors for Tick-Borne and Post-Infectious Diseases. 2024.
NIH. Genetic Susceptibility in Chronic Fatigue and Dysautonomia. 2024.
The Lancet. Systematic Reviews of Invisible Illness Epidemiology. 2024.