Description:
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by deer ticks infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
Cause:
Lyme disease is spread through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can attach on any part of the human body often found in hard to see areas. A tick is attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most people are infected through the bites of the immature ticks, which are called nymphs.
Symptoms:
Early Signs (3 to 30 days after tick bite):
• Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, swollen nodes muscle and joint ache.
• EM (Erythema-Migrans) rash that expands gradually over a period of days reaching up to 12 inches or more (30 cm) across.
Later Signs (days to months after tick bite):
• …show more content…
Lab tests are used to identify antibodies to the bacteria that can help confirm the diagnosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi. During the early stage of the Lyme disease this test might not be positive, but the rash is distinctive to make the diagnosis without further testing, especially people who live in areas infested with ticks. If the ELISA test is positive the Western blot test is done to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment:
The early stage of Lyme disease can be treated with oral antibiotics. It’s recommended to take the antibiotic for 14-21 days. Late Lyme disease that involves the central nervous system can be treated with intravenous antibiotic for a 14-28 days period. After treatment some patients affected with Lyme disease still have some of the symptoms like fatigue and muscle aches, which is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome the cause of this syndrome is unknown. It is known the people with Lyme disease are predisposed to develop an autoimmune response that leads to their symptoms.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by deer ticks infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
Cause:
Lyme disease is spread through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can attach on any part of the human body often found in hard to see areas. A tick is attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most people are infected through the bites of the immature ticks, which are called nymphs.
Symptoms:
Early Signs (3 to 30 days after tick bite):
• Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, swollen nodes muscle and joint ache.
• EM (Erythema-Migrans) rash that expands gradually over a period of days reaching up to 12 inches or more (30 cm) across.
Later Signs (days to months after tick bite):
• …show more content…
Lab tests are used to identify antibodies to the bacteria that can help confirm the diagnosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi. During the early stage of the Lyme disease this test might not be positive, but the rash is distinctive to make the diagnosis without further testing, especially people who live in areas infested with ticks. If the ELISA test is positive the Western blot test is done to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment:
The early stage of Lyme disease can be treated with oral antibiotics. It’s recommended to take the antibiotic for 14-21 days. Late Lyme disease that involves the central nervous system can be treated with intravenous antibiotic for a 14-28 days period. After treatment some patients affected with Lyme disease still have some of the symptoms like fatigue and muscle aches, which is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome the cause of this syndrome is unknown. It is known the people with Lyme disease are predisposed to develop an autoimmune response that leads to their symptoms.