Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a spiral shaped bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried primarily by the sheep tick in the UK and by the deer tick in the US. People bitten by an infected tick develop this inflammatory disease, which first affects the skin and then may spread to the joints, nervous system, and other body systems. About half of people infected develop a “bull’s eye” rash within 1-2 weeks. The rash usually is red and may surround the location of the tick bite. Other symptoms may include arthritis-like joint pain, fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and stiff neck.
Since these symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses, diagnosis of Lyme disease is often delayed. This is a problem because, if untreated, more severe symptoms can develop, including painful arthritis, joint swelling, heart problems, and central nervous system problems that could lead to mental disorders. Fortunately, with early detection and treatment, Lyme disease can be cured. There are several oral antibiotics available to treat this disease.
Standard precautions, such as wearing protective clothing, using a tick repellent, and checking for (and removing) ticks at regular intervals, are the best defences against Lyme disease. In addition, there are tests that can diagnose Lyme disease. One measures the levels of antibodies in the body that have developed against the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. This test may appear negative if it is done in the first few weeks after infection. Therefore, if symptoms persist, the test should be repeated a few weeks later. A Western blot test also may be performed to confirm an initial screening test because it is more accurate and specific for antibodies to the Borrelia burgdorferi organism.
Lyme disease is common in the US and Scandinavia, but less so in the UK with 550 laboratory-confirmed cases reported in 2005. The true incidence in the UK is likely to be significantly higher than that reported because of false negatives and cases which are not tested for the disease.
