LYRM5
Lyme Disease: A Tick-Borne Illness with Far-Reaching Implications
Description:
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. The disease is characterized by a distinct bullseye rash that appears at the site of the bite, typically within 3-30 days.
Associated Diseases:
- Lyme arthritis: Joint inflammation and swelling, primarily affecting the knees
- Lyme carditis: Heart inflammation, potentially leading to arrhythmias or heart failure
- Lyme neuroborreliosis: Infection of the central nervous system, causing symptoms such as headaches, meningitis, and facial palsy
- Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS): Persistent symptoms after antibiotic treatment
Did you Know ?
- Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe, with an estimated 300,000 new cases reported in the United States each year.
