Lyme disease - causes, symptoms and treatment

Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that is spread to humans by ticks. The infection can cause a range of different symptoms and if left untreated, it can develop into more serious illnesses. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics and even though most people experience mild symptoms, Lyme disease must always be treated to avoid serious illness.

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What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria that is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. The disease can affect different parts of the body and lead to a variety of symptoms, which often vary from person to person. Borrelia is a very common disease and it is estimated that approximately 10,000 people are affected in Sweden each year.

Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease

Most people who are infected with Lyme disease have mild or no symptoms at all, and that is why many do not even know that they have had the disease. When Lyme disease causes symptoms, one of the earliest and most obvious signs of the disease is a characteristic ring-shaped reddening of the skin at the site of the tick bite. The redness usually appears one to four weeks after you got the bite, but it can take even longer. It is usually at least five centimeters in diameter and can gradually grow even larger. Typical of the redness due to Lyme disease is that the skin in the center becomes lighter again, which makes the rash look like a red ring. A small percentage of those affected by Lyme develop the majority of skin redness and also fever. These are symptoms of a more widespread infection.

Untreated Lyme disease can lead to sequelae

If the disease is not treated, Lyme disease can spread to different parts of the body and cause more serious problems. If the bacterium reaches the nervous system, neuroborreliosis develops, an infection that causes symptoms such as headache, neck stiffness and radiating pain in the neck, arms, legs or back. It can also lead to nerve pain, facial paralysis and meningitis.

Lyme disease can also cause an inflammation of the joints (Lyme arthritis), which is usually characterized by swelling in one or more joints, most often the knee joints. The inflammation can come and go and vary in intensity.

In rare cases, Lyme disease can also affect the heart. The most common symptom of it is heart rhythm disturbances.

Treatment of Lyme disease

Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, and the vast majority recover completely after treatment. It can take a long time - sometimes several months - to be free of all ailments, but the sooner treatment is started, the sooner you who are ill can get well again. It is therefore important to seek medical care if you know or suspect that you have been bitten by a tick and develop symptoms of Lyme disease.

There is no vaccine against Lyme disease and you do not become immune if you have had the disease once. If you are bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria, you can become infected again.

Preventive measures

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to protect yourself from tick bites. You can do that by:

• Use insect repellent when staying in areas where ticks are present.
• Wear clothing that covers arms and legs in tick-prone areas. Tuck pant legs into socks to make it harder for ticks to access your skin.
• Examine the body carefully when you have been outdoors in risk areas. Be especially careful in areas where ticks thrive, such as armpits, groin and knee folds.
• Keep garden and outdoor environments free of tall grass and leaves where ticks thrive.

If you have been bitten, it usually takes around a day for the Lyme bacteria to be transferred to you from the tick. You reduce the risk of infection if you remove the tick as quickly as possible. Use tweezers or tick pickers and grab the tick as close to the skin as you can. Pull the tick straight out, without twisting, so that the entire tick follows.

Borrelia in children and adults

Lyme disease can affect people of all ages, including children. It is important for parents to be aware of the symptoms and to quickly contact healthcare if you suspect that your child has been bitten by a tick and is developing symptoms of Lyme disease. Secondary diseases such as neuroborreliosis and Lyme arthritis can also affect children. Make it a habit to look for ticks on the child's body if you have been out in areas where they are found.

Frequently asked questions about Lyme disease

Is Lyme disease contagious between people?

No, Lyme disease is not contagious between people. The only known route of infection is via tick bites.

How long after a tick bite can you get Lyme disease?

The incubation period for Lyme disease varies, but symptoms can appear from a few days to several weeks after the tick bite.

Can you get Lyme disease several times?

Yes, you can get Lyme disease several times. Having had Lyme disease does not confer immunity against future infections.

How do you know if you have Lyme disease?

If you experience symptoms such as a growing ring-shaped redness on the skin, fatigue, fever, headache or joint pain after a tick bite, these may be signs of Lyme disease. Contact a doctor for assessment.

I've been given antibiotics for Lyme disease, but it doesn't help?

It can sometimes take many months for the symptoms to disappear despite antibiotic treatment. The infection is treated even if the symptoms do not disappear immediately. You will not recover faster from a longer course of antibiotics.

Can you get Lyme disease without redness?

Yes, it is possible to get Lyme disease without the typical redness. Other symptoms such as fatigue, fever and joint pain may still occur, so it is important to pay attention to other signs of the infection.

What is the difference between Lyme disease and TBE?

Both Lyme disease and TBE are tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics, while TBE is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. There is no cure for TBE, but there are vaccines that prevent the disease. If you have once had TBE, you are immune.