Index
- Lyme Borreliosis, the most affected women
- Reasons for the high rate of Lyme Borreliosis in women
- Reliability of the Elisa test called into question
- The different symptoms of Lyme Borreliosis
- How to prevent Lyme Borreliosis
Lyme Borreliosis, the most affected women
Lyme Borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans through an infected tick bite. It is a pathology that affects many people regardless of gender and age. The period from spring to autumn favours the transmission of the disease, as this is when ticks are abundant. Moreover, with global warming, these arachnids are developing rapidly. Hikers and forest workers are often the most affected. However, studies have shown that 60% of the female sex is infected with the disease.
Reasons for the high rate of Lyme Borreliosis in women
The behavioural factor is the primary reason for this explosion of cases among women. Women are more inclined to talk about their illness. Men, on the other hand, tend to keep their minor ailments to themselves.
The geographical location factor is the second cause of the high rate of Lyme Borreliosis in women. The disease is widespread in Europe, North America and Asia in cold and temperate regions. Fields and wooded areas are the habitats of the ticks. Women in their sixties, between 61 and 65 years of age, as well as girls between the ages of 6 and 10, make up the 60% of women with the disease. These age groups are most at risk by living near woods.
These two categories of women are also the most likely to contract Lyme Borreliosis for a particular reason. Being in the category of non-active women, they like to spend time outdoors. Physical activity, such as walking, is recommended for senior citizens to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Reliability of the Elisa test called into question
Serological tests for Lyme disease or Lyme Borreliosis are done in two steps.
- The Elisa test comes first. It is carried out on a blood sample from the patient. However, this test has its shortcomings: the calibrations are not accurate and bacteria of different kinds appear. A variation in serology over time is observed. If the Elisa test is negative, switching to the Western Blot test is unnecessary.
- The confirmation of the test is done by the Western Blot. It is done when the Elisa test is positive or doubtful. Being more specific, it is more reliable than the Elisa test. Lyme disease can be present despite a negative Western Blot because it is insensitive to certain strains of Borrelia.
These are the reasons why proving Lyme Borreliosis is difficult. There are too many complications when it comes to interpreting the serological results. When the disease is in its early stages, the result is often negative. The same is true in the two phases that follow. It also happens that the serological results are positive when it is not Lyme disease, as microorganisms can give the same symptoms. In other cases, the test can be negative even though the patient has all the symptoms of the disease.
The different symptoms of Lyme Borreliosis
The symptoms of Lyme Borreliosis are the same as those of the flu. The patient experiences headaches, great fatigue, muscle aches, chills and fever. These are signs of the disease in its early stages. This is why it is not always easy to detect it at first. Without proper treatment, the signs that may appear are:
- Inflammation of the joints
- Pain in the joints
- Meningitis
- Temporary facial paralysis on one side
- Weakness or numbness in muscles or limbs
- Inflammation of the eyes
- Heart problems
- Intense fatigue
They are due to arthritis and neurological disorders.
How to prevent Lyme Borreliosis
The common means of prevention to avoid Lyme Borreliosis are:
- Wearing long, light-coloured clothes
- Mowing or cutting tall grass
- Wearing gaiters and inserting trousers into socks
- A thorough check of the entire body from head to toe, including the navel and genitals after a visit to a tick infested area
The risk of transmission of Lyme Borreliosis can be reduced if the tick is removed in time after the bite. The Tire-Tic can be useful in this case. It is necessary to monitor the bite area for several days after the bite. Migrant erythema can develop and cause a generalised progression of Lyme disease. This should be avoided at all costs, as the consequences are harmful to the patient's health.
Insect repellents or repellents are another type of Lyme disease prevention. Intended for external application on clothing or skin, they repel arachnids, which are then unable to bite their prey.
