What is Lyme Disease?

About Lyme Disease

• It is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
• Transmission:
  • It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, often referred to as deer ticks.
  • Lyme disease cannot spread:
  • between humans
  • from pets to humans
  • through air, food, or water
  • Lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies also do not transmit it.
• It is prevalent in wooded and grassy areas worldwide, particularly during warmer months. It is most commonly reported in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia.
• Symptoms:
  • Early symptoms of Lyme disease start between 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bite you.
  • It commonly manifests with symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic "bull's-eye" red rash called erythema migrans (EM).
• Erythema migrans serves as a hallmark sign, aiding in the early diagnosis and management of this tick-borne illness.
  • Left untreated, it can lead to more severe complications affecting the joints, heart, and nervous system.
• Treatment:
  • The standard treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, especially in the early stages.
  • In later stages, intravenous antibiotics may be required.

Q1) What are intravenous antibiotics?

Intravenous antibiotics are antibiotics that are administered directly into a vein so that they can enter the bloodstream immediately and bypass the absorption in the gut. 

Source: Lyme disease reported in Kerala's Ernakulam