Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a “spirochete.” In the United States, the actual name of the bacterium is Borrelia burgdorferi. In Europe, another bacterium, Borrelia afzelii, also causes Lyme disease. Certain ticks found on deer harbor the bacterium in their stomachs. Lyme disease is spread by these ticks when they bite the skin, which permits the bacterium to infect the body.
Lyme disease is an infection that is spread by ticks. You can get Lyme disease if you are bitten by an infected tick. But most people who have had a tick bite do not get Lyme disease. It’s still important to see your doctor if you have a tick attached to you that you can’t remove.
One sign of Lyme disease is a rash, which may appear 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. This rash usually starts at the site of the tick bite. It may begin as a small red spot and grow larger. The center may fade, creating a “bull’s eye” or ring appearance, but this is not always the case. Some people with Lyme disease have many red spots. The rash may burn, hurt or itch.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that features a skin rash, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms. You get the disease from the bite of an infected tick. Sometimes it is hard to know if you have Lyme disease because you may not have noticed a tick bite. Also, many of its symptoms are like those of other diseases. Symptoms may include
A skin rash, often resembling a bulls-eye
Fever
Headache
Muscle pain
The diagnosis of Lyme disease should be made after evaluation of a patient’s symptoms and the risk of exposure to infected ticks. Blood tests may be administered in conjunction with clinical diagnosis to demonstrate the presence of antibodies to the bacteria.
Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to an irregular heart rhythm or chest pain. It can spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy) or tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. It can start to cause headaches and neck stiffness, which may be a sign of meningitis. Swelling and pain in the large joints can also occur.
For the relief of symptoms, pain-relieving medicines might be added. Swollen joints can be reduced by the doctor removing fluid from them (arthrocentesis). An arthrocentesis is a procedure whereby fluid is removed from a joint using a needle and syringe under sterile conditions. It is usually performed in a doctor’s office. Rarely, even with appropriate antibiotics arthritis continues. It has been suggested by researchers that sometimes joint inflammation can persist even after eradication of the Lyme bacterium.
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites. Wear light-colored clothing that covers most of your skin when you go into the woods or an area overgrown with grass and bushes. This makes it easier to see and remove ticks from your clothing. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and wear pants instead of shorts. Tuck your pant legs into your socks for added protection.
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