- Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which is spread through the bite of an infected deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. The tick must be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
- Lyme disease can manifest itself with dematologic, rheumatologic, neurologic and cardiac abnormalities. The most common symptom of early Lyme disease is erythema migrans (EM), also known as “the bull’s-eye rash” (seen about 60-80% of the time nationwide). EM lesions are often accompanied by other acute symptoms such as fatigue, fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, or mildly stiff neck.
- Late manifestations include arthritis characterized by brief attacks of joint swelling, Bell’s palsy or other cranial neurities, radiculoneuropathy, lymphocytic meningitis, encephalitis, and 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular block.
- Last but not least, Lyme disease is preventable. The easiest way to avoid Lyme disease is to avoid contact with the ticks that carry it.
- Lyme Disease – Two-tier antibody testing including ElISA, followed by Western Blot for both IgG and IgM.
- Anaplasma, Babesia and Ehrlichia – PCR is the preferred method.
- RMSF and Tularemia – Serologic testing – always get both acute and convalescent samples.