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.
• It cannot spread between humans, from pets to humans, through air, food, water or 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:
  • It starts between 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bites 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.
  • If it is 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.

Q1: What are Erythema migrans?

It is a rash that frequently appears as one of the first symptoms of Lyme disease. It's typically a circular red area that sometimes clears in the middle, forming a bull's-eye pattern.

Source: The growing threat of Lyme disease: The complex illness that’s hard to diagnose