Lyme Disease

Lime disease, spirochetal infection

Borellia burgdorferi

Spirochete, weak gram negative, microaerobic, motile, slow growing

Ticks and other animals (deer)

Epidermis

Artropod vector (black legged deer) Tick Bite 36-48hrs duration

3-30 days

Spirochete injected into the skin multiply and spread radially- eventually entering lymphatic and circulaotry system to spread through the body. Chronic spirochete infection and immune response damage tissue

Erythema Migran (bull’s-eye rash- presesnt in 80% of cases), fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes

Where bacteria ends is where pain will be: severe headaches, neck stiffness, additional em rashes, arthritis w/painful and swollen joints, facial palsy, intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones, heart palpitations/irregular heart beat, episodes of dizzness or shortness of breath, nerve pain, inflammation of brain and spinal cord, probelms with short term memory, shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in hands or feet

Avoid Ticks- .5% permethrin or 20% deet

Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, Cefuroxime axetil, disulfiram