|
 Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi. As Lyme Disease refers specifically to this one species, and Lyme type symptoms can be caused by other borrelia species. particularly in Europe, it may be more accurate to refer to chronic borreliosis rather than ‘Lyme’.
Lyme is commonly acquired via a tick-bite, and may produce a classic ‘bulls-eye’ rash, erythema migrans. However, many patients do not develop the rash, and many are not aware of having been bitten by a tick. The longer a sufferer has been infected, the harder it is to detect via testing, which is unreliable and may produce false negatives even at the earlier stages. Lyme should always be a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms rather than just tests. Treatment consists of long-term anti-microbials, conventional antibiotics and/or herbal remedies. The sooner a patient is treated post-infection, the better their chance of recovery. Late-stage Lyme Disease is very difficult to cure, and may take years of treatment. Throughout Europe, there are wide variations in levels of awareness and testing for borreliosis. Anyone looking into the possibility that their symptoms may be caused by borrelia should be aware that some countries have little understanding of chronic borreliosis. |
Lyme disease