Blood
The pathogens of Lyme disease are transmitted to humans via the tick bite. Once in the blood Borrelia bacteria have the ability to penetrate tissue cells and continue to exist in the cells and change their surface structure. Furthermore, the pathogen spreads through the lymphatic and blood vessels in the human body and attacks organs in which it multiplies.
From the organs, the pathogen can “infect” the body again and again and provide a new surge of the disease. In general, however, it is not possible to transmit the disease from person to person. This includes droplet infections, smear infections and sexual contact.
However, the latter method of transmission is controversial and is considered possible in some studies. In theory, blood products (blood transfusion, for example) can also contain Borrelia bacteria if the donor was (unknowingly) infected, but transmission through blood products is considered almost impossible. In summary, therefore, humans are not infectious for other people and do not contribute to the spread of the disease.
Pregnancy
However, the situation of the risk of infection is changed during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the borreliosis pathogen can pass from the mother to the unborn child via the placenta. The effects on the child are assessed differently in different research studies.
According to current findings, maternal Lyme disease does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of infantile damage or specific malformations. However, the pregnant woman should be offered an ultrasound scan at a prenatal medical centre for safety and sedation in order to be able to diagnose any malformations that may occur. In other studies, organ damage and stillbirths are associated with maternal Lyme disease infection.
Therefore, for safety reasons, antibiotic therapy should be sought in cases of clinical suspicion of Lyme borreliosis or the detection of an infection in the blood. It is important that the doctor takes care that the antibiotic does not harm the unborn child. The drug of choice is usually a penicillin preparation, unless the mother is allergic to penicillin. If complications occur due to the Lyme disease infection, the antibiotic therapy must be changed and another remedy (e.g. Ceftriaxone) must be prescribed.
Meningitis
Meningitis develops at an advanced stage of the disease. Initially, a local infection occurs, which is impressive as reddening in the area of the sting and spreads in the course of the disease. In the meantime, unspecific symptoms such as fever, headache and swelling of the lymph nodes also occur.
As the infection progresses, the pathogen spreads throughout the body and attacks organs. Especially the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi triggers the neuroborreliosis. This leads to meningitis, which is characterised by headaches, high fever and a stiff neck.
The so-called Garin-Boujadoux Bannwarth Syndrome is also typical: in addition to meningitis, inflammation of the nerve roots and cerebral nerve failures also occur. The infestation of these structures is manifested by the following symptoms: Nerve pain, paralysis, numbness, balance disorders and dizziness, concentration difficulties and changes in character. Of course, many unspecific symptoms such as fever or chills also occur.
This stage of the disease requires several weeks of antibiotic therapy. However, meningitis is not contagious for other people either. and these symptoms are indicative of neuroborreliosis.
