To prevent Lyme disease, attention must be paid to reducing risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Staying in wooded areas with inappropriate clothing such as short pants. Risk groups Foresters, forest workers Children in the forest kindergarten People Between the ages of 60 and 69 – apparently spend more time in wooded areas than other groups. … Lyme Disease: Prevention
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate Lyme disease: Note: The disease manifests itself differently from individual to individual, i.e., it can occur with any of the various early or late manifestations! Stage I (days to about 5 weeks after the tick bite) Leading symptom of stage I Erythema migrans (wandering redness; erythema chronicum migrans) … Lyme Disease: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
Pathogenesis (development of disease) Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (gram-negative bacterium from the group of spirochetes), which is transmitted in Germany by the tick species Ixodes ricinus (wood tick).The longer the sucking act, the higher the risk of infection. The Borrelia burgdorferi-sensu-lato complex includes: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto Borrelia afzelii Borrelia … Lyme Disease: Causes
General measures Borrelia are not transmitted into the human body until about 12 hours after the bite. Therefore, it is important to remove a tick as soon as only possible! Tips for removing ticks: Follow these steps when and after removing the tick: If tick infestation occurs, immediately grasp tick with tick forceps or tweezers … Lyme Disease: Therapy
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification. Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activities of the heart muscle) – if cardiac arrhythmias are suspected, which can occur especially in stage II of Lyme disease. Echocardiography (echo; … Lyme Disease: Diagnostic Tests
Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. Family history Social anamnesis What is your occupation? Do you frequently travel in wooded and/or meadow areas in your job or in your free time? Do you have pets? Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints). Have you noticed … Lyme Disease: Medical History
Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99). Allergic skin reaction, unspecified. Erythema exsudativum multiforme (synonyms: erythema multiforme, cocard erythema, disc rose) – acute inflammation occurring in the upper corium (dermis), resulting in typical cocard-shaped lesions; a distinction is made between a minor and a major form. Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99). Anaplasmosis – infectious disease. Babesiosis – infectious … Lyme Disease: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
EIn the following, the most important diseases or complications that can be caused by Lyme disease as well: Respiratory system (J00-J99) Pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat). Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59). Iritis (inflammation of the iris). Conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis) Temporary blindness in children due to pressure on the optic nerve (optic nerve). Cardiovascular system (I00-I99). Chronic … Lyme Disease: Complications
Classification of Lyme disease into three stages Note: The disease manifests itself differently from individual to individual, i.e., it can occur with any of the various early or late manifestations! Stage Designation Time (p. i.) Description I Early Lyme disease 1-5 weeks Erythema migrans (wandering redness) or erythema chronicum migrans (89-95.4%). Lymphadenosis cutis benigna Bäfverstedt … Lyme Disease: Classification
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; further: Inspection (viewing). Skin, mucous membranes, pharynx (throat), and sclera (white part of the eye) [erythema migrans (migratory redness; circular redness around the site of the bite usually with … Lyme Disease: Examination
Therapy goals Elimination of the pathogens Avoidance of complications Therapy recommendations General antibiosis (antibiotic therapy) after tick bite is not recommended. The exception is multiple bites in a high-risk area. Antibiotic therapy (doxycycline, penicillin G, ceftriaxone or cefotaxime as monotherapy): In erythema migrans (wandering redness) immediately without antibody detection, lymphocytoma: doxycycline; in pregnant women with … Lyme Disease: Drug Therapy