Sandbox:Amresh

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Amresh Kumar MD [2]

Overview

Lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia. The vector of infection is typically the bite of an infected black-legged or deer tick (I. scapularis), but other carriers (including other ticks in the genus Ixodes) have been implicated. Borrelia burgdorferi is the predominant cause of Lyme disease in the US and Borrelia afezlii and Borrelia garinii are the predominant causes in Europe.

The disease's presentation varies widely, and may include rash and flu-like sypmtoms in its initial stage, then musculoskeletal, arthritic, neurological, psychaitric, and cardiac manifestations. In a majority of cases, symptoms can be eliminated with antibiotics, especially if treatment begins early in the course of illness. Late or inadequate treament often leads to "late stage". Lyme disease that is disabling and difficult to treat.