Lyme disease: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment.

摘要: Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is most common vector-borne disease in United States. The causative organism transmitted through cutaneous inoculation infected ixodid ticks. Illness typically begins summer with characteristic skin rash, erythema migrans, and associated flulike symptoms. Weeks to months later, majority of untreated individuals experience one or more manifestations disseminated primarily involving nervous system, heart, joints. Diagnosis based on recognition appropriate signs symptoms setting travel residence an endemic area, supported serological testing. All stages illness are responsive antibiotics, although treatment efficacious when begun early course disease.