Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi. This disease is transmitted to humans through the bites of ticks that are infected with this bacteria. Lyme disease can cause serious consequences if not treated in time.
Lyme disease. Causes and spread
Ticks usually live in forests and tall grasses. Ticks are small, so they can be hard to see on human skin. In addition, ticks are able to pass through small cracks or scratches in the skin, so they can be difficult to notice, even if a person regularly checks his body.
Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria is usually transmitted to humans when an infected tick is attached to the skin for more than 24-48 hours. During this period, the bacterium passes from the tick's digestive tract into its saliva and then into the human blood through a tick bite.
Lyme disease occurs mostly in the temperate zone, in those areas where ticks live. It covers most of North America and Europe, especially in forested and grassy areas. Lyme disease is seasonal, with most cases occurring in the spring and summer, when people tend to visit places where ticks live and when they are most active.
Thus, Lyme disease is related to the distribution areas of ticks and their ability to transmit the borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease has symptoms that can vary depending on the stage of the disease and can appear days to months after being bitten by an infected tick.
The first and most common symptom is redness of the skin, called erythema. It is a characteristic skin rash with a lighter area in the middle. The rash usually appears 3-30 days after a tick bite, but is not always noticeable as it may be painless and not itchy.
Early symptoms that may accompany or follow a skin rash include fatigue, headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, which can sometimes be very severe. Swelling of the lymph nodes may also occur.
If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated in time, late symptoms may occur. These can be permanent or periodic joint inflammations, usually affecting the knee joints. Neurological symptoms such as headache, loss of consciousness, muscle weakness or paralysis may also occur in the later stages of the disease. Some patients may develop heart rhythm disturbances and other heart problems.
For this reason, if you think you have been bitten by a tick and experience one or more of the symptoms listed above, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help prevent serious complications and long-term consequences.
Diagnosis and treatment
Lyme disease is usually diagnosed based on the patient's symptoms and medical history. The previously mentioned erythema skin rash is very characteristic of Lyme disease and can help the doctor to make the correct diagnosis.
In addition, there are laboratory tests that can be done to confirm a diagnosis of Lyme disease. These include serology tests that look for antibodies against the borrelia burgdorferi bacteria in the blood. It is important to note that these antibodies do not usually appear in the blood until 2-6 weeks after the onset of infection, so these tests may be negative at an early stage. Sometimes additional tests may be needed.
Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, which are effective against the borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. The course of treatment usually lasts 2-4 weeks. Early antibiotic therapy is usually effective and most people make a full recovery.
However, if Lyme disease is diagnosed later or if complications develop, longer or more intensive antibiotic therapy may be needed. Some patients, especially those experiencing neurological symptoms, may require intravenous antibiotic therapy.
It is important to note that despite treatment, a small number of people may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, or difficulty concentrating, even after the infection has been cured. The causes of PTLDS are not fully understood, so it requires an individualized symptom management plan.
How can you protect yourself from Lyme disease?
Lyme disease prevention is very important because it is the best way to protect yourself from the disease. Since Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites, the main principle of prevention is to minimize contact with ticks.
First of all, if you are going to places where there are a lot of ticks, especially woods, bushes or tall grass, wear long clothes to protect yourself. Clothing should be light-colored to make it easier to spot ticks.
Second, use insect repellent. DEET and picaridin are two active ingredients that are effective tick repellants. They can be used on skin or clothing. There are also special clothes that are treated with permethrin, which is a tick repellent.
It is important to check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Pay attention to areas of the body such as the feet, knees, torso, back, armpits, neck and head area.
If you find an infected tick, it is important to remove it as soon as possible. The best way to do this is with tweezers. After removing the tick, it is important to disinfect the bite site.
After all, it is necessary to know that if the tick was removed within 24-48 hours, the risk of Lyme disease is very low, because the borrelia bacteria is usually transmitted only after a longer time.
Remember, prevention is the key to protecting yourself from Lyme disease.
Source of information:
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Lyme disease
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), U.S. National Library of Medicine. "Lyme Disease: A Neuropsychiatric Illness," American Journal of Psychiatry
World Health Organization (WHO): Lyme disease.
Mayo Clinic: Lyme Disease.
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