Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by black-legged ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Medical experts believe that the narrow definition of the disease has led to poor treatment and misdiagnosis.
There are three stages of bacterial disease, and it is important to detect it in the first stage, or other complications may arise as symptoms of the disease's progression. In this first stage, a skin lesion is usually identified, causing headaches, musculoskeletal pain, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and minor neurological impairment. At this point, Lyme disease can be treated with penicillin or other short-term antibiotics.
The second stage may reveal some alarming symptoms, such as meningitis, encephalitis, and cranial neuritis. These neurological abnormalities can result in facial paralysis, and some patients may experience heart problems. The second stage occurs between one and several months after the onset of infection.
The third stage is particularly alarming, as symptoms may take several months or even years to become noticeable. At this point, chronic Lyme disease can lead to death, whether caused by heart problems, worsening cognitive impairment, or suicide due to depression.
As if these issues were not already concerning enough, a new study has found that the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that causes Lyme disease can be transmitted sexually. Researchers have also discovered that the bacteria needs manganese to grow and survive, which could be an important detail for researchers to pursue.
These two important discoveries may help prevent the spread of Lyme disease and may also possibly kill the bacteria in its early stages before more serious complications begin to develop. Some patients receive antibiotics in the later stages of Lyme disease, a practice that the Infectious Diseases Society of America says is harmful because antibiotics administered over a prolonged period of time do not provide the best results and can also be harmful to the body. The disease can become immune to the drugs, and consuming them for a long time can lead to fatal complications.
See the National Geographic article on the history and recent discoveries of Lyme disease.
