Lyme Disease

Question 1

What is the most common tick-borne disease?

Answer 1

Lyme Disease

-deer ticks are the most common cause of lyme disease; the saliva and feces of tick is what enters the skin/bloodstream of human, transmitting infection

Question 2

What are the three stages of lyme disease/progression of s/s?

Answer 2

Stage One: bulls eye rash appears 3 to 30 days after being bit by tick- rash enlarges over time; fever, malaise, fatigue, stiff neck, lymphadenopathy

Stage Two: systemic involvement! (cardiac, neuro, musculoskeletal)

Stage Three: *can occur months to years after initial infection; brain inflammation, motor/nerve damage (lasting damage)

Question 3

What antibiotic is used early in lyme disease infection to prevent disease progression?

Answer 3

AMOXICILLIN

Patients younger than 8 years of age = amoxicillin or penicillin are antibiotics of choice

Patients older than 8 = amoxicillin or doxycycline are antibiotics of choice