Lyme Disease

Question 1

What is Lyme Disease?

Answer 1

• Also known as Lyme Borreliosis.
• An inflammatory disease that caused a bacterium which is spread by ticks.
• can spread to the body for several months or years after infection causing arthritis & nervous system problems
• ticks can also transmit illness such as Babesiosis & Colorado tick fever
• most common vector-borne disease in US

Question 2

Causative agent

Answer 2

• Borrelia burgdorferi & Borrelia mayonii (US)
• Borrelia afzelii & Borrelia garinii (Europe & Asia)
• black-legged tick or deer tick

Question 3

MOT

Answer 3

Bite of infected ticks

• must be attached for 36-48 hrs for the bacterium to be transmitted
• found in hard-to-see areas such as groin, armpits, & scalp
• grassy or heavily wooded areas

Question 4

S & S

Answer 4

-fever, chills, headache, muscle & joint aches, & swollen lymph nodes occur in the absence of rash

• erythema migrans (EM) rash:
  
  • occurs 70-80% of infected person
  • begins at the site of the bite after the delay of 3-30 days (7dys ave)
  • expands up to 12” or more
  • may feel warm to the touch but rarely itchy or painful
  • sometimes clears as it enlarges, “bull’s eye”
  • may appear on any areas of the body

Question 5

Treatment

Answer 5

• early treatments may be cured rapidly and completely
• oral meds: doxycycline, amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil
• neurological/cardiac form illness: IV treatment w penicillin & ceftriaxone

Question 6

P & C

Answer 6

• avoid areas where deer tick lives like wooded, bushy with tall grass areas
• cover up
• use insect repellents
• check for ticks in clothings & human beings
• don’t assume you’re immune
• remove ticks ASAP w tweezers
• tick-proof your yard