La Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacterium; this bacterium is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick.
Lyme disease was first recognized in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut in 1975 and is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe and America.
Le people who live or spend a lot of time in wooded areas are more at risk of contracting this disease.
Index
Lyme disease symptoms
People with Lyme disease can have different types of symptoms, more or less severe; although Lyme disease is commonly divided into 3 stages (early localized, early disseminated and late), symptoms may overlap.
Here are the most common symptoms of this disease:
- flat, circular rash where the tick has bitten
- fatigue
- joint pain and swelling
- muscle pain
- headache
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- sleep disorders
- difficulty concentrating
If you have any of these symptoms or suspect that you have been bitten by a tick, see your doctor or emergency room right away.
Cause
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted through the bite of a black-legged tick or deer tick.
The tick is so called because it often feeds on deer blood. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease multiply at the site of the tick bite.
Dopo un 3 to 30 days, they migrate from the site of the sting to adjacent areas and cause a rash, called migrant erythema.
Bacteria can enter the lymphatic system and attack the lymph nodes or enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs such as the heart, nervous system and joints.
Lyme disease diagnosis
Diagnosis of Lyme disease begins with a review of the person's medical history, which includes looking for reports of tick bites or residence in an endemic area.
The doctor will also perform a physical exam to look for the presence of a rash or other characteristic signs of the disease.
Blood tests become reliable a few weeks after the initial infection, when antibodies are present; in addition, the following tests can be performed:
- enzyme-linked immunosorbent test: checks for antibodies against the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacterium
- polymerase chain reaction: evaluates people with symptoms affecting the joints and nervous system.
Treatment
Lyme disease is best treated in the early stages; the treatment for early localized disease consists of a simple one course of antibiotics for 10/14 days to eliminate the infection.
The drugs used to treat the disease are:
- oral doxycycline
- oral amoxicillin
- intravenous antibiotics (used in cases of cardiac and nervous system involvement).
Did you know about Lyme disease? Let us know in the comments and remember to follow us on our telegram channel