Lyme Disease : A Chronic Medical Mystery

Typical incubation periods between initial infection and symptom presentation is between 7 and 14 days. The classic symptomology indicating infection is the development of Erythema-Migrans, which is a bulls-eye shaped rash or legion that emanates from the site of the original tick bite. Although this is considered the characteristically identifiable symptom of early Lyme disease infection, studies have shown that as few as 35% of patients develop a rash (Nadelman et al., 1996). Other common indications of early Lyme disease include, flu-like symptoms and the development of Bell’s palsy. Common treatments for early stage cases include oral antibiotics and are highly effective in relieving infections. However, patients who do not receive treatment and develop CLD or acquire Post Lyme Disease Syndrome can experience significantly more severe health problems. Symptoms of these conditions include those found in early stages as well as, cognitive impairment, insomnia, neuropathy, and heart problems (Wormser et al., 2006). The nature of this bacterial infection and its increasing global incidence has made it a disease of significant interest in the public health and medical

B. burgdorferi is injected into the skin by the bite of an infected tick. Saliva from the tick that enters the skin upon the bite contains not only the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, but substances that prevent an immune response from being carried out at the site. This provides a protective environment where the spirochete can establish infection (CITE).

According to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt (a world renowned Lyme expert), Lyme disease is considered the plague of the century due to the large number of people with chronic Lyme disease and the associated co-infections. The number one symptom of Lyme is chronic fatigue. People can have Lyme for a very long time and not be properly diagnosed because current laboratory testing comes up short with being able to detect it. One of the main reasons for this is because chronic Lyme does not live in the blood but rather in the tissues. It is an intracellular organism meaning it lives inside the cell. Lyme has different shapes: spirochete (like a spring), cyst with a hard shell, and acellular (without an outer cell membrane). Lyme likes to set up a sanctuary in the body such as in the brain, teeth (such as under a root canal or in a cavitation), vertebrae, breast tissue, and lymph nodes. It looks for a place where it can be protected and the body is vulnerable preferably in fatty tissue or under a biofilm. While traditionally Lyme disease is considered a tick-borne disease, recent findings have discovered that it is an insect-borne disease that can get transferred

First, Lyme disease is a tick borne illness, meaning it spreads through tick bites. The disease is only spread through a limited species of ticks, the utmost popular being the deer tick. Lyme disease can affect humans and dogs, as well as other animals. Although, only spread through a few species the disease is very harmful to one’s health. In 2009, it was found that “the C.D.C reported 38,000 cases, which is three times more than in 1991” (Specter 25). The process of the tick is rather simple and sudden. First, the ticks attach to their host and spread an antihistamine on the surface to numb the area to prevent the victim from feeling the bite. Thereafter they emit a glue resembling

Ticks, they are most significant vectors of infectious diseases in the United States. These arachnids can host a scary medley of infectious bacterium, and they are increasing at an alarming rate with one CDC graph showing their numbers have almost tripled since 1995 (Lyme Stats). Some point to greater awareness, other point to climate change, while we don’t know exactly why their reach is growing we do know we have to be wary of the diseases they carry. While not all ticks are hosts, ticks carrying the Borrelia bacteria known for causing Lyme disease present a massive public health risk. Lyme is one most under researched Infectious diseases with the CDC estimating that somewhere between 300,000 and 3,000,000 people are infected annual.

Lyme disease has been identified as an infection surrounded by complications, starting from its discovery to diagnosis. The Lyme infection was discovered first during the mid-1970, following the attribution of juvenile arthritis outbreak to this disease near Old Lyme, Connecticut. The naming of the disease was established in 1977, although the complications of the causative agent lasted an additional five years, after which medical scientists identified the deer tick midgut Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete as the supposed causative agent (Lyme Research Alliance, n.d.).

There are certain risk factors which can increase one 's chance of contracting Lyme disease. For example: where a person lives can heighten one 's likelihood of getting this illness. Wherever deer or white-footed mice are high in population, ticks are likely to be as well, since these animals are their main food source. Ticks also thrive in heavily wooded and grassy areas, so, if a person lives or works in such a place, they

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the Ixodes genus.[3] Usually, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread.[4] In North America, the only

Although most people don’t realize it, one of the world’s most debilitating diseases can often be found in their very own backyard. Lurking in the tall grass or dangling from the end of a branch, just waiting for you to walk by. Barley bigger than a poppy seed, they’re almost impossible to notice. But these tiny black-legged ticks are no joke and if you’ve been bitten, you’re at risk. These nasty little ticks pack a big punch, carrying a very serious life altering disease. This disease, which can change a life forever is known as Lyme disease.

Lyme disease begins with a bite from an infected tick. It is the most common tick-borne disease within the United States (Wadsworth Center, n.d.). The causative agent of Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. This pathogen is a spirochete with endoflagella, an outer membrane with LPS-like substance, an inner membrane and a periplasmic space which contains a layer of peptidoglycan (Tilly, Rosa, Stewart, 2009).

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgodorferi. Lyme disease is primarily transmitted through tick bites, there has been no reported cases of human to human transfer of Lyme disease. Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks are the typical carriers of the Lyme disease. The ticks can most primarily be found in wooded and grassy areas. Due to the fact these ticks are only the size of a poppy seed they usually go undetected when they bite. Once the tick is attached to the skin it can feed for several days; the longer the tick is attached the more likely Lyme disease will be transmitted. Lyme disease can affect any organ of the body including the brain, nervous system, muscles, joints, and even the heart. In some cases, if a pregnant woman develops Lyme disease it can pass on to the unborn child and in some cases stillbirth has occurred due to the disease.

Pathophysiology of Lyme disease is caused by an infected deer tick (CDC, 2014). The pathophysiology of a disease is the mechanism of what is causing it. Most cases occur between the months of April to August, which is when ticks are in the nymph’s stage in their lives (CDC, 2014). Lyme disease attacks the muscular tissues, immune system, brain and the heart. At first, an inflammatory skin reaction occurs before an important antibody response to infection. Lyme disease can affect

This will cause joint damage and go on Lyme Arthritis, this disease also focuses on the nerves. This can go on to mental problems and even cause another disease by the name of Tics. That disease focuses on the heart it will slow down somebody's heart rate. Most diseases should have a treatment, Lyme disease has many treatments. Such as Antibiotic drugs like doxycycline, amoxicillin, penicillin, and erythromycin are many treatments for this disease. There was a newer vaccine for this disease, this is called LYMErix. One of the greatest problems with the medical care for Lyme disease is the problem with when they diagnose the vaccine . Diagnostic tests are very unlucky to be done unless the disease is getting out of hand. Even when Lyme disease is suspected, currently available diagnostic tests often yield false negative results and are usually correct. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, the disease may look like it is going away, but it is just getting worse. The spirochete basically takes over the disease at this

The evidence shows that the discovery of the origins of Lyme Disease has been particularly difficult to determine. One of the very first physicians who reported on an expanding skin rash was Swedish dermatologist Arvid Afzelius. He eventually published his findings and hypothesized that the rash may be associated with the Ixodes

What is Lyme Disease? By definition it is an inflammatory diseased noted by its symptoms of rashes, headaches, eventual arthritis, cardiac disease, etc, caused by bacteria.