Lyme Borreliosis

Ticks can spread infections, causing various pathologies. Among them is Lyme disease. Borreliosis is provoked by bacteria and, unlike, for example, tick-borne encephalitis, is quite successfully treated with antibiotics.

The most common sign of this disease is redness. At the site of the tick bite , after a few weeks or days, a small red swelling is formed. Around this place begins to spread quickly enough redness. In medicine, this condition is called migratory erythema (erythema migrants). It is the most characteristic sign accompanying the disease Lyme Borreliosis. This symptom is detected in 70-80% of all cases.

Some patients have a so-called "mousse rash". It is represented by a red center around which a pale rim surrounds, around which, in turn, redness also arises.

Another accompanying disease Lyme Borreliosis symptom is an influenza-like condition. The patient experiences malaise, weakness, fatigue.

In the absence of timely treatment, Lyme Borreliosis disease can provoke joint damage. As a rule, after a few weeks there is pain and swelling. The knee joints are most often affected. In this case, soreness can occur in different areas at different times. This condition is called "migratory arthritis".

Lyme Borreliosis disease can contribute to the development of neurological problems. They include Bell's paralysis (on one side of the face), meningitis (inflammation of the membranes in the brain), numbness, weakness in the upper and lower extremities. These symptoms usually appear in later periods. Most often after a few weeks or several months, after another bite.

Less common signs include inflammation of the eyes, arrhythmia, hepatitis.

Infection occurs when bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi enter the body. Borrelia are transferred by ixodid mites. Infection occurs after a bite. In other words, if the mite does not suck, then the disease is not transmitted. The probability of infection is greater the longer the parasite sucks blood. Therefore, the sucking mites should be removed as soon as possible. It should be noted that when injected into the skin, infection does not always occur. So, if the insect has not yet poured blood (did not increase in size, and its abdomen did not swell), then the incidence of infection with Borreliosis is small enough.

Diagnosis of the condition is somewhat difficult due to the presence of a large number of nonspecific symptoms, often accompanying other diseases (including, joint diseases, viral infections, fibromyalgia, depressive states and others). Therefore, to clarify the disease requires laboratory confirmation.

During the study, it is necessary to take into account that positive tests become after two to four weeks after the bite, and not immediately after it.

To detect antibodies to borrelia, an enzyme immunosorbent assay is used. If the result is positive, an additional Western blot analysis is assigned. This study yields fewer false positive results.

A very accurate and sensitive analysis is PCR (polymerase reaction (chain reaction)). This study can detect Borrelia DNA in the joint fluid.

To eliminate the disease, usually used Doxycillin (for adults), pregnant and children are prescribed Cefuroxime or Amoxicillin. These antibiotics are used for ten or twenty-one days.