General Information About Lyme Disease
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Lyme disease is a tick-borne infectious disease that occurs when Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete-type bacterium, enters the body, potentially affecting multiple systems (skin, nervous system, heart, and joints). Because its symptoms can be confused with many different rheumatological and neurological diseases, it is sometimes referred to as the "Great Imitator" in the medical world.
The main cause of the disease is the Borrelia bacterium. The disease is not transmitted from human to human; it is transmitted when an infected tick bites a human and transfers the bacteria into the body while sucking blood. For the bacteria to pass to the human, the tick typically needs to remain attached to the skin for 36 to 48 hours.
The most characteristic early symptom is a skin rash in the shape of nested red rings, called a "bull's-eye" (Erythema migrans), which appears 3 to 30 days after the tick bite. This rash may be accompanied by fever, chills, fatigue, severe muscle and joint pains, and swollen lymph nodes.
If not diagnosed and treated early, the infection can spread to other parts of the body over months or years. In this late stage, severe headaches, neck stiffness, facial paralysis, heart palpitations and rhythm disorders (Lyme carditis), severe joint pains and swelling (especially in the knees), and various neurological problems (memory issues, nerve pains) may be observed.
Diagnosis is usually made by specialist physicians based on the patient's complaints, history of tick exposure in nature, and the presence of the typical "bull's-eye" rash. To support clinical findings and make a definitive diagnosis, two-step blood tests (serological tests) like ELISA and Western Blot are used, which detect the antibodies produced by the body against the bacteria.
The basic and most effective treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics. Patients diagnosed in the early stage generally achieve a full recovery with 2 to 3 weeks of oral prescription antibiotic courses. In patients with advanced stage neurological or cardiac involvement, longer-term intravenous antibiotic treatments may be required.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
