Intravenous IV antibiotics are used for some forms of Lyme disease, including those with cardiac or central nervous system CNS involvement. After improvement and to finish the course of treatment, healthcare providers will typically switch to an oral regimen. The complete course of treatment usually takes 14—28 days. Lyme arthritis , a late-stage symptom of Lyme disease that may present in some people, is treated with oral antibiotics for 28 days.
About 10 to 20 percent of people with Lyme disease experience this syndrome, according to a article published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The cause is unknown. Post-Lyme disease syndrome can affect your mobility and cognitive skills.
Treatment is primarily focused on easing pain and discomfort. Most people recover, but it can take months or years. Get a better understanding of post-Lyme disease syndrome.
The symptoms of post Lyme disease syndrome are similar to those that occur in the earlier stages. There is no evidence that Lyme disease is contagious between people. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , pregnant women cannot transmit the disease to their fetus through their breast milk.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria transmitted by blacklegged deer ticks. There is also no evidence that Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted or transmitted through a blood transfusion. Learn more about whether Lyme disease is contagious. The progression of Lyme disease can vary by individual.
Symptoms of Lyme disease usually start 1 to 2 weeks after the tick bite. The rash occurs at the site of the tick bite, usually, but not always, as a central red spot surrounded by a clear spot with an area of redness at the edge. This rash will gradually fade in most people. The formal name for this rash is erythema migrans. Erythema migrans is said to be characteristic of Lyme disease. Early disseminated Lyme disease occurs several weeks to months after the tick bite.
This stage of the disease is primarily characterized by evidence of systemic infection, which means infection has spread throughout the body, including to other organs. Stage 3 can occur months or years after the tick bite. Diagnosing Lyme disease begins with a review of your health history, which includes looking for reports of tick bites or residence in an endemic area.
Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam to look for the presence of a rash or other symptoms characteristic of Lyme disease.
Blood tests are most reliable a few weeks after the initial infection, when antibodies are present. Your healthcare provider may order the following tests:. Learn more about how to prevent Lyme disease when a tick bites you. This article will cover some of the most important known species of Lyme disease Borrelia , when they were discovered, where they are most common, and what doctors should know about testing for multiple species.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the U. But first, keep reading to learn about what all species of Lyme Borrelia have in common. Spiral- or corkscrew-shaped bacteria like those in the group Borrelia are known as spirochetes. Not all spirochetes are pathogenic, and not all pathogenic spirochetes are vector-borne. For example, the spirochete group Treponema pallidum is known to cause syphilis through sexual transmission.
The pathogenic spirochetes in the group Borrelia are zoonotic — meaning they are spread from animals to humans and to other animals — and vector-borne — meaning they are transmitted through vectors, namely ticks and lice. Lyme disease Borrelia live in so-called reservoir hosts, such as birds or the white-footed mouse, and are transmitted to tick larvae or nymphs during the feeding process.
When these ticks then go on to feed on larger mammals such as humans, the bacteria are transmitted and cause an infection resulting in Lyme disease. Below is a breakdown of the different types of Lyme Borrelia scientists have discovered so far. This broad classification of Lyme-causing Borrelia includes many species and strains of Lyme-causing Borrelia , including:.
The Lyme-causing bacteria was first discovered in by scientist Willy Burgdorfer, and subsequently named after him: Borrelia burgdorferi. When scientists refer to the species Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto , they are referring to one of two strains in this species: B.
Transmitted by the black-legged tick , it is the predominant species in North America but is also common in Europe. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings e. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods.
Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
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