Learn About Lyme Disease

What is the definition of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. The bacteria are transferred to humans by tick bite, specifically by blacklegged ticks (commonly known as deer ticks). The condition is named for the location in which it was first described, the town of Lyme, Connecticut.

What are the causes of Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is caused by infection with bacteria rather than by genetic changes. The risk of developing Lyme disease is influenced by a variety of lifestyle and environmental factors that reflect how likely a person is to get bitten by an infected tick, such as where a person lives, how much time is spent outdoors, and the time of year. While there is no evidence that genetic factors play a role in susceptibility to Lyme disease, such factors may affect the severity of the disease, particularly whether antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis develops.

How prevalent is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. An estimated 300,000 new cases occur every year. Lyme disease occurs in areas in which blacklegged ticks are found, primarily the northeastern states (from Virginia to Maine), the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan), and parts of California and Oregon. In these regions of the United States, the incidence of Lyme disease is 10 to 100 cases per 100,000 people each year.

Is Lyme Disease an inherited disorder?

Lyme disease cannot be inherited. The risk of certain complications of the condition may be influenced by inherited genetic factors, but the inheritance pattern is unknown.

Who are the top Lyme Disease Local Doctors?
Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease

Somc Medical Care Foundation, Inc.

1805 27th St, 
Portsmouth, OH 
 46.8 mi
Accepting New Patients

David Byers is an Infectious Disease provider in Portsmouth, Ohio. Dr. Byers and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lyme Disease. His top areas of expertise are Hepatitis C, Hepatitis, Cellulitis, and Osteomyelitis. Dr. Byers is currently accepting new patients.

Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease

Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, Inc

100 Greatstone Pt, 
Lexington, KY 
 52.4 mi
Accepting New Patients

Takaaki Kobayashi is an Infectious Disease provider in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Kobayashi has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lyme Disease. His top areas of expertise are Actinomycosis, Lyme Disease, COVID-19, and Blastomycosis. Dr. Kobayashi is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Family Medicine
Family Medicine

Somc Medical Care Foundation, Inc.

1005 E Ring Rd, 
Ironton, OH 
 57.9 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Rockford Meadows is a Family Medicine provider in Ironton, Ohio. Dr. Meadows and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lyme Disease. His top areas of expertise are Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Glossitis. Dr. Meadows is currently accepting new patients.

What are the latest Lyme Disease Clinical Trials?
A Comprehensive Clinical, Microbiological and Immunological Assessment of Patients With Suspected Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and Selected Control Populations

Summary: This study will determine whether patients who have been infected with the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, and treated with antibiotics still have the bacteria alive inside them and whether it is causing their symptoms. The information from this study may serve as a basis for developing stringent diagnostic criteria for Lyme disease and the establishment of future treatment trials. Individual...

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Symptomatic Management of Lyme Arthritis

Summary: Lyme arthritis resolves with appropriate antimicrobial treatment in a majority of patients, but 10-20% of patients develop antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis with prolonged arthritis symptoms and treatment courses. Excessive up-regulation of the inflammatory process has been shown in patients with antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis. The over-expressed pro-inflammatory cell mediators are downst...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: June 01, 2018
Published By: National Institutes of Health