Overview
- Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, transmitted through bites of infected Ixodes ticks.
- It typically begins with an expanding skin rash (erythema migrans) and can spread to the joints, nervous system, and heart if untreated.
- The bacteria are spirochetes that evade the immune system through surface proteins and antigenic variation, and the disease is largely immune-mediated rather than toxin-driven.
- Clinical progression includes early localized disease (rash and mild systemic symptoms), early disseminated disease (neurological and cardiac involvement), and late disease (especially arthritis).
- Diagnosis is mainly clinical in early stages, and treatment with antibiotics such as doxycycline or beta-lactams is highly effective.
- Some patients may develop persistent symptoms after treatment, which are typically immune-mediated rather than due to active infection.
- Lyme disease is most common in North America and Europe, with risk linked to tick exposure in endemic areas.
- Prevention focuses on avoiding tick bites, using protective clothing and repellents, performing tick checks, and removing ticks promptly.
- In selected high-risk cases, post-exposure prophylaxis with a single dose of doxycycline may be used, while new vaccine candidates are currently under development.
By Global Health Press
