Lymes Disease

Question 1

How is lyme’s disease transmitted?

Answer 1

Ticks

Question 2

What are the three stages of lyme’s disease?

Answer 2

Early localised
Disseminated infection
Persistent infection

Question 3

What happens in the early localised stage?

Answer 3

ECM - erythema chronicum migrans (rash)
Regional lymphadenopathy
Flu-like symptoms

Question 4

What happens in the disseminated infection stage? And when does this occur?

Answer 4

Nervous
Cardiac
Skin
MSK
occurs weeks to months post infection

Question 5

What happens in the persistent infections stage? When does this occur?

Answer 5

MSK + nervous symptoms
Episodic attacks of asymmetric oligoarticular arthritis affecting large joint
Occurs from a day to 2 yrs post infections

Question 6

What is the treatment for lyme’s disease?

Answer 6

Doxycycline- children over 8 and adults
Amoxicillin- children under 8 and pregnant/breastfeeding women

Question 7

What are the investigations for lyme’s disease?

Answer 7

Positive screening for enzyme immunoassay (EIA), immunofluoresence assay (IFA).
IgG/IgM western blot for Borrelia Burgdorferi