Lyme Disease Danielle Haggerty

Definition Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi Deer tick holds bacterium in their stomachs Ticks bite the skin which permits the bacterium to infect the body

Physiology behind Lyme Disease… The tick’s bite results in bacteria being released into the skin. The epidermis then becomes irritated and inflames.

Diagnosing Lyme Disease There is an enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA, test to diagnose Lyme Disease It will detect the antibodies that are released by the immune system to rid of the bacteria from the bite. Blood tests are helpful later on because it can identify the bacteria.

1 in 4 cases of Lyme Disease goes undetected. If it goes undetected, it can result in heart and nervous system involvement. Later, it can affect motor and sensory nerve damage. This would happen because the bacteria would travel throughout the body and affect more than just the location of the bite.

Symptoms Rash: irritation from tick bite Flu- like symptoms Joint pains: especially in knees Neurological problems: inflation membranes surrounding the brain cause this

Vaccine The Lyme Disease vaccine was discontinued in 2002 because it was at low demand Antibiotics can treat Lyme Disease successfully within a couple of weeks so the vaccine is unnecessary.