How is Lyme disease transmitted through tick bites?

Question

Hello doctor,

I recently spent time outdoors and found a tick on my body. I am concerned about Lyme disease. Could you please explain its symptoms and how it is transmitted through tick bites? Additionally, what steps can I take to prevent Lyme disease, and when should I seek medical attention if I suspect I have been infected?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne illness, it is a multisystem illness usually caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the body's immune response to the infection. The disease is transmitted to humans via tick bites from infected ticks of the genus Ixodes. Symptoms that you should look for:

Flu-like illness - Fever, chills, malaise, myalgias, arthralgia, headache.
Tender local adenopathy (local, not diffuse).
Erythema migrans (EM).

If symptoms are present, please do the following investigations:

Step 1: Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) - Total lyme titer or IgG (immunoglobulin G) and IgM ((immunoglobulin M) titers.

Step 2: Western blot testing.

Treatment will include:

Adult patients with early localized or early disseminated Lyme disease associated with erythema migrans: Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, or Cefuroxime axetil.
Children under eight years and pregnant or nursing women with early localized or early disseminated Lyme disease: Amoxicillin or Cefuroxime axetil.
Neurologic Lyme disease: IV (intravenous) Penicillin, Ceftriaxone, or Cefotaxime; oral Doxycycline, when not contraindicated, in patients with Lyme-associated meningitis, facial nerve palsy, or radiculitis.

I hope this information helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Regards.