Lyme disease is an infection that is transmitted through the bite of a tick infected with a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks typically get the bacterium by biting infected animals, like deer and mice. Most people who get tick bites do not get Lyme disease. The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also known as the deer tick, carries the bacteria that causes Lyme infection. The same tick also can spread other diseases, including babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus.
Early signs and symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes- all common in the flu. In up to 80% of Lyme infections, a rash is one of the first symptoms. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease have multiplied aggressively over the past 20 years. The trend line of the disease is always upwards.
If Lyme is caught early, patients generally recover quickly when treated with antibiotics, primarily doxycycline. However, 10 to 20 percent of patients go on to develop a debilitating chronic condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome or PTLDS, with symptoms that include extreme fatigue, arthritis, muscle pain, and cognitive difficulties. About 20% to 30% of Lyme rashes have a “bulls-eye” appearance — concentric circles around a center point — but most are round and uniformly red and at least 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) across. Doctors diagnose it based on symptoms and a history of tick exposure. Two-step blood tests are helpful if used correctly. However, the accuracy of the test depends on when you got infected. In the first few weeks of infection, the test may be negative, as antibodies take a few weeks to develop. Northeastern University Distinguished Professor Kim Lewis, who leads the Lyme disease research team, is now expanding that therapeutic reach with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The most promising development in the fight against Lyme disease is better diagnostic tests that are accurate in the first few weeks after exposure. The earlier the treatment, the less likely the disease will progress.
Shraddha Patil
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