What is the route of infection for Lyme disease?
The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is spread through the bite of infected ticks. The blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) spreads the disease in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States.
Which are correct early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?
Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.
What are the recurring symptoms of Lyme disease?
Some chronic Lyme disease symptoms
- Intermittent fevers, chills, and sweats.
- Chronic inflammation.
- Roving aches and stiffness.
- Numbness and tingling in the limbs.
- Dizziness and shortness of breath.
- Tremors.
- Respiratory infections.
- Sore throats.
What are the symptoms of Stage 2 Lyme disease?
Symptoms of early disseminated Lyme disease (stage 2) may occur weeks to months after the tick bite, and may include:
- Numbness or pain in the nerve area.
- Paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the face.
- Heart problems, such as skipped heartbeats (palpitations), chest pain, or shortness of breath.
What is the portal of exit for Lyme disease?
The portal of exit is the area in which the microorganism leaves the reservoir. With Lyme disease, the portal of exit is the tick’s feeding tube.
What is indirect contact?
Indirect contact transmission occurs when there is no direct human-to-human contact. Contact occurs from a reservoir to contaminated surfaces or objects, or to vectors such as mosquitoes, flies, mites, fleas, ticks, rodents or dogs.
What color ticks carry Lyme disease?
In the United States, Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii, carried primarily by black-legged or deer ticks. Young brown ticks often are no bigger than a poppy seed, which can make them nearly impossible to spot.