What is Lyme disease?
A brief definition straight from the internet: Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium named Borrelia which is spread by ticks. The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness on the skin, known as erythema migrans that appears at the site of the tick bite about a week after it occurred. Other early symptoms may include fever, headache, body ache, and lethargy. If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness, or heart palpitations, among others. Months to years later, repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur. Occasionally, people develop shooting pains or tingling in their arms and legs. Despite appropriate treatment, about 10 to 20% of peopledevelop joint pains, memory problems, and tiredness for at least six months.
