Shelby Schrock and Sydney Griffin Hr. 5 Lyme Disease Shelby Schrock and Sydney Griffin Hr. 5

The Disease A tick-borne illness caused by bacteria Comes from only deer ticks Causes a rash along with flu-like symptoms Can be treatable if caught early, not deathly

Scientific Description bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi The bacteria replicate in the dermis layer of the skin Red bullseye rash: Erythema Migrans Appears on the cutaneous membrane, first sign of lyme disease

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Symptoms Pain in joints or muscles Joint stiffness or swelling Fatigue and fever Bullseye rash around bite Headache Sleep issues Facial paralysis

Cause Caused by a deer tick bite when the tick is carrying the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria Infected tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before bacteria can be transmitted

Treatment Most people recover completely with an antibiotic treatment prescribed from a doctor If symptoms return after treatment then it turns into chronic lyme disease If chronic, it can result in problems with the heart, circulation, and skin This can lead to a poor quality of life

Worst Case Scenario Only about 1 in 10 people have lingering symptoms known as Chronic Lyme Disease If left untreated Bouts of severe joint pain Neurological problems, trouble with short term memory Numbness, tingly/shooting pains Bell’s Palsy- paralysis on one side of your face

Three Facts There are only 23 documented deaths from the disease Most ticks carry multiple disease-causing pathogens There used to be a Lyme Disease vaccine but it was discontinued in 2002 because the demand was insufficient

Sources https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651 https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/chronic-lyme/