Lyme disease.

Causative organism is Borrelia burgdorferi.

It’s also called as Lyme borreloisis. Lyme disease is most common vector borne disease in US.

Mode of transmission: Tick bite (vector)

Causes: Lyme diseases.
Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by bite of an infected black legged tick.

Reserviour of an organisms consist of small mammals like white mouse, blood of birds upon which the tick feeds, ticks usually feeds during summer when there is higher incidence of disease. Tick feeds 24-48 hrs to transmit an infectious dose. Feeds on human who enters into the tick’s wood canal habitat. Organisms spread from bite site through the surrounding skin followed by dissemination via’ the blood to various organs like heart, joint, CNS. Classic symptom is erythema chronicum migrans, an expanding “bull’s eye” red rash with central clearing

There are 3 stages of Lyme diseases.

Stage 1- erthema chronicum migrans, flu- like symptoms.

Stage 2- neurological and cardiac manifestations.

Stage 3- auto immune migrating polyarthritis affecting the large joints of the knee.

Prevention.

-prevention centers on wearing protective clothing, socks and long trousers, avoiding sitting on the grass ,use of insects repellents to the exposed areas of the skin as precaution.

- Examining the skin carefully for tick bite is very important as it feeds for 24-48 hours to transmit an infectious does.

-protection measures for hikers, campers, or those living in tick infested areas.

posted by, sanjana