Lyme disease is an infectious disease whose prevalence has increased over the past twenty years. It occurs when the body has been infected with a special type of bacteria called a spirochete. It is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first diagnosed. He was isolated when a group of mothers discovered that all of their children had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis within a short distance of each other. These cases were all attributed to a bacterial cause, and the term “Lyme disease” was coined in 1982.
This disease is transmitted by tick bites. When the tick bites, the bacteria that causes it is introduced into the body. It is important that this type of bite is necessary for transmission, so Lyme disease is not contagious.
Symptoms of Lyme disease vary greatly from person to person. The round “bulls-eye” rash is the most common symptom people experience. This rash develops around the site of the tick bite a few days after the bite. It develops over several weeks and then fades. Some people think that the disease itself goes away with the rash, but it’s important to note that the rash will go away even without treatment. Lyme disease can also cause additional rashes, discomfort, and joint problems.
Everyone experiences it in a different way. While some people may experience painful symptoms after only a few days, others may wait weeks for obvious symptoms to appear. It is also often misdiagnosed as lupus or fibromyalgia, due to the similarity of symptoms and sometimes lack of evidence of a tick bite. A blood test is usually needed in order to make a firm diagnosis.
When this disease is left untreated for a long time or does not receive adequate treatment, the consequences can be serious. Symptoms get worse as you go through the three stages of the disease, from initial infection to what is called late persistent infection. Untreated Lyme disease can lead to severe neurological damage, leading to severe pain, paralysis, and cognitive impairment.
