Lyme disease

Lyme disease is also known as Lyme disease. Lyme is a place in the USA where the Disease was discovered for the first time. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks. The sick people are not contagious, as transmission from person to person is not possible.

In previous years, the Diagnosis too rarely, it is currently diagnosed too frequently.

Even extensive laboratory tests make it very difficult to distinguish between a healed disease and a still active form.

The results of the laboratory tests therefore usually correspond to a so-called yes and no finding:

The decision as to whether or not treatment is necessary can practically never be made through laboratory tests. However, a trial treatment with antibiotics is sometimes necessary.

Having had Lyme disease does not confer immunity, which means repeated infections are possible.

Muscle or joint pain is typical, with the large joints being particularly affected. The heart may also be affected. In about 10% of cases, the central nervous system can also be affected (so-called neuroborreliosis).

Experts are still arguing about the optimal treatment for Lyme disease. Possible antibiotics are cephalosporins or tetracyclines. Sometimes a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotic therapy is chosen.

But even after a trial course of antibiotics, it is not always possible to say with certainty whether the patient actually had Lyme disease, as placebo effects often occur during treatment. It is hoped that laboratory tests or other diagnostics will be developed in the near future that will lead to improvements in diagnosis and treatment.