Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that features a skin rash, swollen joints and flu-like symptoms. You get the disease from the bite of an infected tick. Sometimes it is hard to know if you have Lyme disease because you may not have noticed a tick bite. Also, many of its symptoms are like those of other diseases. Symptoms may include

A skin rash, often resembling a bulls-eye
Fever
Headache
Muscle pain
Stiff neck
Swelling of knees and other large joints

In the early stages, doctors look at your symptoms and medical history to figure out whether you have Lyme disease. In the later stages of the disease, lab tests can confirm whether you have it.

Antibiotics usually cure early stage Lyme disease. If not treated, the disease can cause problems with the joints, heart and nervous system.

Lyme Disease on Wikipedia

'''Lyme disease''' is an infectious diseases tick-borne disease, caused by the ''Borrelia'' spirochete, a gram-negative microorganism. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks.

History

Lyme Disease is so named because it is generally believed to have first been observed in and around Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. Before 1975 the Borrelia infection was also called tick-borne meningopolyneuritis, Garin-Bujadoux, Bannwarth Syndrome or sheep tick fever. The disease was first documented as a skin rash in Europe in 1883. Over the years, researchers there identified additional features of the disease, including an unidentified bacterium that was treatable with penicillin, the role of the Ixodes, or wood, tick as its carrier, and symptoms that included not only the rash but additional ones that affected the nervous system. Researchers in the US have been aware of tick infections since the early 1900s. For example, an infection called tick relapsing fever was reported in 1905, and the wood tick, which carries an agent that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, was identified soon after. The full syndrome now known as Lyme disease, however, was not identified until a cluster of cases thought to be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis occurred in three towns in southeastern Connecticut, in the United States. Two of these towns, Lyme and Old Lyme, gave the disease its popular name.

Microbiology

In 1982 a novel spirochete was isolated and cultured from the mid-gut of Ixodes ticks, and subsequently from patients with Lyme disease. The infecting agent was first isolated by Willy Burgdorfer, a scientist at the National Institute of Health who specialized in the study of spirochete microorganisms. This gave this spirochete its name, Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia burgdorferi ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Raye, Collin - She's Gonna Fly - Dedicated to those suffering from Alzheimers and Lyme Disease.

Tick Research Laboratory - University of Rhode Island site engaged in research about tick-borne diseases. Photo gallery and information about Lyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis.

Lyme Disease Foundation - Includes details about the organization, diseases, ticks, education, journals, conferences, research, vaccines and personal stories. Offers upcoming events, news and a support group locator.

Lyme Disease and Tick Management - University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension factsheet and audio on ticks and Lyme disease, including images of several tick species and life stages.

Biomedica Immunoassays - Biomedica immunoassays for (Big) Endothelin, vitamin D, natriuretic peptides, oxidative stress, Borrelia (lyme disease), cell proliferation and cytotoxicity.

Mixture Sciences, Inc. - A privately held company that specializes in research for treatment of cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases, including Lyme Disease. Lists research projects and procedures. Based in San Diego, California.

CFS/FMS/MCS/GWS/Lyme Information - This site focuses on chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, Lyme disease, and/or Gulf war syndrome.

CDC Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (DVBID) - Details about this national and international reference center for vector-borne viral and bacterial diseases. Location: Colorado, USA. Covers disorders such as lyme, plague, yellow fever, west nile, virus, and dengue fever. Publications, links and details about specimen submissions.

Key Facts about Lyme and Ehrlichiosis Tick-borne Diseases - Includes symptoms, carriers, prevention, and proper tick removal techniques.

Lyme Disease Information and Support - Located in Boston area Massachusetts. Links and updated information on this and other tick-borne diseases, babesiosis and erlichiosis. Also help getting diagnosed and treated.

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