Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Latest News

American singer Justin Timberlake has announced that he was battling Lyme disease during his recently wrapped up world tour.

About Lyme Disease

• It is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. 
• It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. 
• It primarily affects the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints.
• It was named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut,  United States, where it was first identified in children in 1976.
• It is most commonly reported in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia.
• It’s also known as Lyme borreliosis.

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Lyme Disease Transmission

• It’s transmitted (spread) to humans through a tick bite. 
• Not all tick bites cause Lyme disease. Only deer ticks (also called black-legged ticks) can spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
• These ticks are commonly found in wooded or grassy areas worldwide, particularly during warmer months. 
• It cannot spread between humans, from pets to humans, through air, food, water, or lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies also do not transmit it.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

• Lyme disease occurs in stages. The signs and symptoms of each stage can overlap.
• Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. 
• Untreated Lyme disease can cause severe arthritis and damage the heart and nervous system.

Lyme Disease Treatment

• Most cases are treatable with antibiotics although recovery can take time, especially for those who are left undiagnosed in the early stages.
• Even after treatment, some symptoms may linger.

Source: NDTV