Lyme Disease: A World-Wide Infectious Disease

Lyme disease is a world-wide infectious disease, of which 25% of the reported cases are children. All cases of this have been found on every continent but Antarctica. Lyme disease is transmitted through a bite from an infected deer tick. These ticks, often the size of a poppy seed, can leave an undetectable bite. Less than 50% of people with the infection have been seen with the bull’s eye rash. Some patients develop symptoms similar to symptoms related to a flu, a week after becoming infected. Although many people are asymptomatic but can develop Lyme symptoms months, years or decades later. Symptoms include: fatigue, jaw discomfort, muscle pain, joint aches like arthritis- typically in the knees, swollen glands, memory loss, neck stiffness