Follow us On YouTube Follow us On FaceBook



or
Search Language
Browse
Medical Animations
Medical Animation Titles
Custom Legal Animations
Patient Health Articles
Most Recent Uploads
Body Systems/Regions
Anatomy & Physiology
Diseases & Conditions
Diagnostics & Surgery
Cells & Tissues
Cardiovascular System
Digestive System
Integumentary System
Nervous System
Reproductive System
Respiratory System
Back and Spine
Foot and Ankle
Head and Neck
Hip
Knee
Shoulder
Thorax
Medical Specialties
Cancer
Cardiology
Dentistry
Editorial
Neurology/Neurosurgery
Ob/Gyn
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Account
Administrator Login
The Doe Report Medical Reference Library
Print this article
Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Loading image. Please wait...

Lyme disease was first reported in 1975 after researchers investigated why unusually large numbers of children were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Lyme, Connecticut, and two neighboring towns. Scientists soon discovered the disease was caused by a corkscrew-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi passed to humans through the bite of a tick. The bacterium is carried by the deer tick in the eastern and central United States and by the Western black-legged tick on the Pacific coast.

In 1999, 16,273 cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States more than 90 percent of all reported cases occur in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and the upper Midwest. Few cases have been reported in northern California and remaining states. Loading image. Please wait...

The first sign of Lyme disease is often a circular or bullseye-like rash appearing at the site of a tick bite within a few weeks of the bite. Sometimes the rash is the first sign a person has been bitten. As the rash progresses it can appear on other sites of the body. The disease is easily cured at this stage with antibiotics, so careful attention to the symptoms is critical for proper care. If left untreated, many people develop pain and swelling in the joints, which may progress to chronic arthritis. In some cases, neurological symptoms also appear.

To reduce the risk of infection, a Lyme disease vaccine (LYMErix(r)) is available for use by people who live in endemic areas and are at high risk for developing the disease.

SOURCE: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Last updated August 5, 2003



Medical/Legal Disclaimer
Copyright © 2003 Nucleus Medical Art, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Related Medical Demonstrative Evidence - click thumbnail to review.
How do I find a personal injury lawyer in my local area?
Find a personal injury lawyer in your local area using LEGALpointer™, a national directory of U.S. attorneys specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, medical product liability and other medical legal issues. Or, click on one of the following to see attorneys in your area: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Washington D.C. (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachussets (MA), Michigan (MI), (MN), Mississippi (MS), (MO), Montana (MT), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Puerto Rico (PR), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Virgin Islands (VI), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI).












Awards | Resources | Articles | Become an Affiliate | Free Medical Images | Pregnancy Videos
Credits | Jobs | Help | Medical Legal Blog | Find a Lawyer | Hospital Marketing