What consequences can occur after several years? | What can be the consequences of a tick bite?

What consequences can occur after several years?

Especially undetected infections with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes the disease Lyme disease, or after an insufficient antibiotic treatment can have long-term consequences. Among these long-term consequences, which often occur only after years, are the so-called Lyme arthritis, the skin disease Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans Herxheimer and the chronic neuroborreliosis. Lyme arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, which leads to swelling and pain, especially in the large joints such as the hip or knee.

Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans Herxheimer is a skin disease. It causes inflammatory redness of the skin on the trunk and extremities. If the disease is insufficiently treated, tissue loss (atrophy) may occur.

Chronic neuroborreliosis occurs in five to ten percent of patients suffering from neuroborreliosis. The progressive inflammation of the brain and spinal cord leads to neurological symptoms such as gait or bladder voiding disorders. The long-term consequences are all treated with antibiotic and symptomatic therapy.