Lyme disease is an infectious illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It's transmitted mainly through tick bites. These ticks can spread the disease to animals and humans through tick bites. The disease was identified in 1975 in a group of children in and around Lyme, Conn. The children showed signs of what initially appeared to be juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis. Lyme disease affect’s people of all ages. It's most commonly characterized by a distinctive rash, flu-like symptoms and aching joints. To contact Lyme disease, you have to be bitten by an infected deer tick.

It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It's transmitted mainly through tick bites. Transmission:

Person-to-Person: Lyme disease is not transmitted from person-to-person. For example, a person cannot get infected from touching, kissing or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease. During Pregnancy & While Breastfeeding: Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the placenta and possible stillbirth; however, no negative effects on the fetus have been found when the mother receives appropriate antibiotic treatment. Lyme disease transmission from breast milk. From Blood: Lyme disease is not linked to Blood transfusion. From Pets: Although dogs and cats can get Lyme disease does not directly spread to their owners. Other Transmission: Lyme disease is not transmitted from eating venison or squirrel meat. There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted through air, food, water, or from the bites of mosquitoes, flies, fleas, or lice.

The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease tend to progress as the disease progresses. Common signs and symptoms include:

Rash: A small, red bump may appear within a few days, even up to a month, at the site of the tick bite. Over the next few days, the redness expands and may resemble a bull's-Eye with a red ring surrounding a clear area and a red centre. Flu-like symptoms: A Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a Headache may accompany the rash. Migratory joint pain: If the infection remains untreated, sharp pains might appear in any joint weeks to months later. Joint pain may appear for a few days then disappear and reappear in another joint. Neurological problems: Inflammation of the membranes surrounding Brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of face (Bell's Palsy), numbness or weakness in limbs and poor muscle movement may occur weeks, months or even years after an untreated infection. Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and changes in mood or sleep habits Less common signs and symptoms: A very few people may experience Heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat, several weeks after infection and Eye inflammation, Hepatitis and severe fatigue.

Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, objective physical findings (such as erythema migrans, facial palsy, or Arthritis), and a history of possible exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory Testing: Several forms of laboratory testing for Lyme disease are available,

ELISA or IFA test, people who don’t have Lyme disease, will test positive. If the ELISA or IFA is negative, it is highly unlikely that the person has Lyme disease, and no further testing is recommended. Western blot test, used appropriately, this test is designed to be “specific,” meaning that it will usually be positive only if a person has been truly infected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This test is used for people who likely have chronic Lyme Arthritis. The test helps to detect B. burgdorferi bacterial DNA in fluid drawn from an infected joint and may be an indicator of persistent infection

Timely treatment increases chances of recovery and may lessen the severity of any later symptoms in both animals and man.

Antibiotics are the standard treatment for Lyme disease in its early stages. For adults, drugs such as doxycycline, cefuroxime, amoxicillin, Doxycycline is not advised for children younger than age 9 and pregnant or breast feeding women because it can cause discolouration in the developing permanent Teeth of children and unborn babies. Instead penicilline may be used. Patients with certain neurological or cardiac forms of illness may require intravenous treatment with drugs such as ceftriaxone or penicillin. Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of the infection usually recover rapidly and completely.

People can decrease their chances of contracting Lyme disease by taking some simple precautions:

Wear long pants and sleeves, Use insect repellents. Do best to tick-proof yard. Check oneself and pets for ticks. Remove a tick with tweezers.

If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause:

Chronic joint inflammation (Lyme Arthritis), particularly of knee Neurological symptoms, such as facial palsy and neuropathy Cognitive defects, such as impaired memory Sometimes, Heart rhythm irregularities

Late-stage symptoms may include:

Memory loss Difficulty concentrating Changes in mood or sleep habits