Lyme+Disease

=Lyme Disease=

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria responsible for this disease are bacterium belonging to the genus borelia. Individuals contract this infection from receiving a tick bite from a tick who contains the bacteria in its own body. The ticks contract Lyme disease from feeding on the blood of an individual already infected with the bacteria.

Lyme disease effects the nervous system as well as joints in the long bones. The damage to the nervous system results in facial palsy and inflamation in the spine which can cause meningitis. The inflamation and damage to the joints can result in arthritis and similar conditions.

Symptoms
Once bitten by an infected tick the victim becomes infected. 3-30 days after the bite (usually 7 days) a bullseye shaped rash appears around the spot of the bite. This is referred to as the erythema migrans (EM). If the infection remains untreated resulting symptoms include additional EM lesions, facial or bells palsy, head aches and neck stiffness due to meningitis, fatigue, pain in large joints, and heart palpitations.

History
The disease was named after Lyme Conn. where in 1975 rare arthritic symptoms were described in children as well as adults. By 1977 it was found that the cause of these symptoms was the borelia bacteria. However Lyme disease has existed for thousands of years. It has been described as early as the 1600’s.

Treatments
Standar treatments for Lyme disease are a regular treatment of anti-biotics for approxamately 2 weeks after being bitten by a tick. Commonly used anti-biotics are doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil.