Tick-borne Borreliosis, Lyme Disease

Tick-borne borreliosis, or Lyme disease, is a serious infectious disease transmitted through a tick bite. This disease is considered the most common tick-borne infection and is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. In Russia, infection with Lyme disease is possible through tick bites in the forests of the Leningrad, Tver, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kaliningrad, Perm, and Tyumen regions, as well as in pastures in the Urals, Western Siberia and the Far East.

Depending on the season, the likelihood of infection after a tick bite can vary from 5 to 90 percent. Lyme disease can occur in three stages, which can last from several weeks to several years. The first stage is characterized by the appearance of a red spot at the site of the bite, which gradually increases to 1-10 cm in diameter, sometimes up to 60 cm or more. A wound may appear in the center of the spot, which then scars. The stain persists without treatment for 2-3 weeks and then disappears.

The second stage of the disease can occur 1-1.5 months after the bite and is characterized by damage to the nervous system, heart or joints. The third stage can begin years after infection and can cause the disease to become chronic or return after apparent recovery.

The diagnosis of Lyme disease can be established at the stage of skin manifestations, but in some cases the disease can be suspected only after the appearance of damage to internal organs. To confirm the diagnosis of borreliosis, special blood tests are performed, which can only be carried out in specialized laboratories at infectious diseases hospitals.

Treatment of Lyme disease is carried out in an infectious diseases hospital, where medications are used to destroy Borrelia. Without such treatment, the disease can progress, become chronic and even lead to disability. Patients who have recovered from Lyme disease should be under medical supervision for 2 years and undergo regular examinations at 3, 6, 12 months and 2 years.

To prevent infection with Lyme disease after being bitten by an infected tick, it is recommended to take 1 tablet (0.1 g) of doxycycline 2 times a day for 5 days. This medicine is contraindicated for children under 12 years of age and pregnant women, so in such cases you should consult a doctor to prescribe another medicine. You should also take precautions when visiting forests and other places where ticks live to prevent contracting Lyme disease. This may include wearing protective clothing, using repellent, checking your body thoroughly after walks, and removing ticks as quickly as possible if they do bite. It is important to remember that Lyme disease can be dangerous, so you need to take steps to prevent it and treat it promptly.