Lyme Disease - Symptoms and Treatment of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a multisystem disease described as having early and late stages. It is caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi , which is transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Lyme disease has a bimodal age distribution, with the highest number of cases occurring in children 2 to 15 years of age and adults 30 to 55 years of age. Lyme disease vaccine reduces the risk of acquiring Lyme disease. In addition to immunization with Lyme disease vaccine, the risk of acquiring tick-borne infections can be decreased further by taking standard prevention measures such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Lyme disease is an infection that causes an inflammatory disease affecting the skin, joints, nervous system, and other organ systems. Symptoms usually appear within a week of infection but may develop up to 30 days after the tick bite. In some cases, there are no symptoms at all. Typically, Lyme disease has three stages. The primary risk factor for Lyme disease is exposure to wooded or grassy areas inhabited by B. burgdorferi infected ticks. Such areas may include woodlands, meadows, or residential yards in endemic areas. Cases have been reported in people whose only exposure to B. burgdorferi has been while on vacation in an endemic area.

Symptoms and Treatment Information for Lyme Disease

Lyme disease has been reported to occur throughout the year. Peak incidence of Lyme disease varies by region and may vary annually based on fluctuations in local climatic conditions. Persons with chronic joint or neurologic illness related to Lyme disease; diseases associated with joint swelling (including rheumatoid arthritis) or diffuse musculoskeletal pain; and second- or third-degree atrioventricular block or a pacemaker were excluded from the efficacy trial because such conditions could interfere with the assessment of Lyme disease in the trial. Therefore, data are limited regarding the safety of the vaccine in persons with these conditions.

Lyme disease vaccine will not prevent disease in those persons who have unrecognized infection at the time of vaccination. Lyme disease vaccine will not provide protection against other tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis or ehrlichiosis.