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  1. Also known as: borreliosis
    A tick-borne disease caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdoferi.This results in rashes, fever and fatigue.
    How common is condition?
    Very common (More than 3 million cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatable by a medical professional
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several days or weeks
    How is condition transmitted?
    Transmitted through tick bites
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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    • Lyme disease is a tick- borne infection caused by four main species of bacteria: Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia mayonii and borrelia burgdoferi.
    • In the United States, lyme disease is predominantly caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii bacteria, carried primarily by certain species of ticks.
    • The risk factors include:
    • People who spend more time in outdoors such as wooded or grassy areas
    • Exposed skin
    • Not removing ticks immediately

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    Many people with early-stage lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around three to 30 days after being bitten. This is known as erythema migrans. The rash is often described as looking like a bull's-eye on a dart board.

    Some of the common symptoms are as follows:

    • Rashes
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Fatigue
    • Headache

    Symptoms of late-stage lyme disease:

    • Numbness In hands and legs
    • Arthritis
    • Short term memory loss

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    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis involves medical history, physical examination and certain tests to rule out other disease conditions.

    Common tests & procedures

    Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): ELISA detects presence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi in the blood.

    Western blot: To confirm the ELISA diagnosis by detecting antibodies to several proteins of B. burgdorferi.

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