Teen with chronic Lyme disease creates app to spread awareness

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- 14-year-old Olivia Goodreau was diagnosed with Lyme disease at the age of 8.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes joint pain, weak limbs, and flu-like symptoms.

To prevent anyone else from having chronic Lyme disease, she created the TickTracker app that tracks ticks in your area and it can help people detect them.

Even if you've been bitten by a tick, Goodreau says early detection is key.

"If you catch Lyme disease early enough like you saw the tick bite and you got treatment right away, you'll probably get rid of it. I did not see the tick. I did not know I had Lyme disease. I didn't even know I had the tick on me and it took 18 months before I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, so that was past kind of the turning point to where it's now chronic Lyme disease there's no cure for it."

On March 15, Goodreau spoke at the Focus on Lyme's Reaching for the Stars fundraiser at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa, where she shared her story and TickTracker app with the guests.

Online: ticktracker.com