Lyme disease can affect several body systems and produce a broad range of symptoms. The rash may look like a 'bull's eye', as pictured, in about 80% of cases in Europe and 20% of cases in the US. Multiple vaccines are available for the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs.Īn expanding rash is an initial sign of about 80% of Lyme infections. No human vaccines for Lyme disease are currently available, although research is ongoing. Some healthcare providers claim that PTLDS is caused by persistent infection but this is not believed to be true because no evidence of persistent infection can be found after standard treatment. PTLDS is different from chronic Lyme disease, a term no longer supported by scientists and used in different ways by different groups. Chronic symptoms following treatment are known as "post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome" (PTLDS). The bacterium involved was first described in 1981 by Willy Burgdorfer. It was originally mistaken for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut. Infections are most common in the spring and early summer. Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. In those who develop persistent symptoms, long-term antibiotic therapy has not been found to be useful. Some people develop a fever and muscle and joint pains from treatment, which may last for one or two days. Standard treatment usually lasts for two or three weeks. If an infection develops, a number of antibiotics are effective, including doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefuroxime. If the removed tick is full of blood a single dose of doxycycline may be used to prevent the development of infection but is not generally recommended since the development of infection is rare. Using pesticides to reduce tick numbers may also be effective. Prevention includes efforts to prevent tick bites by wearing clothing to cover the arms and legs and using DEET or picaridin-based insect repellents. Testing of individual ticks is not typically useful. Blood tests are often falsely negative in the early stages of the disease. Diagnosis is based on a combination of symptoms, history of tick exposure and possibly testing for specific antibodies in the blood. The disease does not appear to be transmissible between people, by other animals nor through food. spielmanii and four other species also cause the disease. In Europe and Asia, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, B. In North America, the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferiand B. In Europe, Ixodes ricinus ticks may spread the bacteria more quickly. In the United States, ticks of concern are usually of the Ixodes scapularis type and must be attached for at least 36 hours before the bacteria can spread. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected ticks of the genus Ixodes. Despite appropriate treatment, about 10 to 20% of those affected develop joint pains, memory problems and tiredness for at least six months. Occasionally shooting pains or tingling in the arms and legs may develop. Months to years later repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur. If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness or heart palpitations. Other early symptoms may include fever, headaches and tiredness. Approximately 70–80% of infected people develop a rash. The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migrans (EM), which appears at the site of the tick bite about a week afterwards. Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne disease caused by the Borrelia bacterium, which is spread by ticks in the genus Ixodes. (a likely overestimate), 200k/year in Europe Prevention of tick bites (clothing the limbs, DEET), doxycycline ĭoxycycline, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime An adult deer tick (most cases of Lyme are caused by nymphal rather than adult ticks)Įxpanding area of redness at the site of a tick bite, fever, headache, tiredness įacial nerve paralysis, arthritis, meningitis, Heart rhythm irregularities īased on symptoms, tick exposure, blood tests
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