Index
- Diagnosis of Lyme disease: how is it made?
- How is Lyme disease transmitted?
- Symptoms and stages of the disease
- How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
- Biological examinations
- Serology
- ELISA and Western-Blot Test
Diagnosis of Lyme disease: how is it made?
Lyme disease, although not too prevalent in the world, is a disease that has received a lot of attention in recent years. It has the particularity of evolving very slowly. Thus, it can develop over many years. However, when it is not identified in time, and no treatment is provided, it is very common for it to lead to serious complications. In order to slow its progression, alleviate symptoms and treat Lyme disease properly, it is important to diagnose it as early as possible. In the following paragraphs, you will learn how Lyme disease is diagnosed.
How is Lyme disease transmitted?
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis is an infectious disease. As such, it is of bacterial origin. The bacterium responsible for this pathology is called "borrelia". This pathogenic bacterium mainly infects ticks, and it is the ticks that transmit it to humans through their bites. It should be noted that the ticks in question are found in wooded and humid areas. Thus, some people are more susceptible to Lyme disease than others. This is the case for hunters, walkers, foresters, hikers or botanists who go into the forest.
In any case, you should know that not all ticks are infected with borrelia. Also, not all infected tick bites transmit the disease to humans. Indeed, the tick in question must remain on the skin for hours before the bacteria can be released and infect the person's blood. So there is no reason to panic if you get bitten by a tick. You simply need to remove the tick as quickly as possible. If necessary, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for help in doing so.
Symptoms and stages of the disease
Because Lyme disease progresses over months or even years, its symptoms change over time. In fact, symptoms differ from one stage of the disease to another. However, the most common symptoms are a rash known as erythema migrans, joint pain and stiffness, aches and pains, headaches, and irregular heartbeat. Other symptoms may also occur, but it depends on the individual patient.
The stages of Lyme disease are as follows:
- The first stage: this phase of the disease corresponds to the four weeks following the infected tick bite. 3 days after the bite, round red spots appear on the bitten skin area. These spots are painless and take on a halo shape centred on the bite. In some cases, the bite is in parts that are difficult to access and the patient is not aware of these spots. After a week, this skin lesion disappears.
- The second stage: this stage takes place a few weeks or months after the first If the patient has not followed any antibiotic treatment, he or she may be subject to rheumatological and neurological symptoms (joint stiffness, fatigue, headaches, a feeling of weakness in the facial muscles, etc.).
- The third stage: this is the last phase of Lyme disease. It corresponds to a worsening of all the symptoms experienced during the second stage. This third phase can last for years and the symptoms in question can become chronic if no treatment is carried out. In fact, other disorders may also appear during this stage. For example, lymphocytic meningitis, vision and concentration problems, and some sick people are even prone to memory loss and depression. Treating Lyme disease during this phase is quite critical.
How is Lyme disease diagnosed?
If the patient does not notice the red spots that are very characteristic of Lyme disease in its early stages, the diagnosis can be problematic. This is because the various other symptoms of Lyme disease can mislead doctors because they are not specific to the disease. However, there are tests that can help diagnose Lyme disease.
Biological examinations
This type of examination can be used to diagnose this condition. However, biological tests are not 100% reliable.
Serology
The purpose of this type of test is to find the presence of antibodies to fight Borrelia. The disadvantage of this test is that the antibodies in question are not detectable within 6 weeks of infection.
ELISA and Western-Blot Test
The first test consists of a search for antibodies while the second studies the nature of the antibodies found. These tests are also useful for determining false negatives obtained during serology.
As you can see, diagnosing Lyme disease can be difficult. But to best help your doctor, make sure you give him or her as much information as possible.
