What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a noncontagious infection transmitted by tick bites. The disease begins with redness at or near the bite site. Over time, joint pain and swelling, an erythematous rash, and heart and neurological complications can occur. Lyme disease is borne by the Borrelia burgdoferi bacteria.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease progresses in three phases, also described medically as early localized, early disseminated and late disease:

In Phase One, a red, bull's eye rash appears three to 30 days after a tick bite. Flu-like symptoms, such as a low-grade fever and painful joints and muscles may occur during this period. The lesion generally disappears in three weeks.

In Phase Two, an erythematous rash, neurological (nerve palsies, meningitis) and cardiac (dizziness, chest pain) manifestations as well as joint pain with swelling are often present. These symptoms can last from a few weeks to several months.

Phase Three usually occurs a few years after the bite and is characterized by Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (a progressive, chronic fibrosing skin process), pseudolymphoma (benign cutaneous lymphoma), chronic arthritic joint pain and brain damage.

What are the long-term effects of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease can cause a variety of health effects that include neurological (peripheral facial paralysis) and cutaneous (atrophy) disorders.

Source: Larousse medical [translation] 1998