Lyme disease - Symptoms and treatment

Lyme disease | Symptoms and treatment

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is a disease caused by infection with the Borrelia bacteria. Lyme disease is transmitted by tick bites, but only a small proportion of tick bites lead to Lyme disease. A typical characteristic of Lyme disease is a ring-shaped skin rash around the bite site. Lyme disease is not contagious between people. In Norway, around 300 cases of Lyme disease are registered each year.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease, or Lyme disease, is caused by infection with the Lyme bacterium. The disease is transmitted through the bite of ticks, which in turn have contracted the infection by sucking the blood of other animals, such as rodents and birds. Lyme disease is not contagious between humans, but is nevertheless the most common tick-borne disease in Europe.

Lyme disease in dogs

Both animals and humans can be infected by the Lyme bacterium. In Norway, it is primarily dogs that can develop disease after infection with the Lyme bacteria. The disease can manifest itself with muscle stiffness, joint pain and movement problems, but it is rare for infected dogs to develop disease. Dogs should be checked regularly for ticks and they should be removed as soon as possible. If Lyme disease is suspected, you should see a vet who can prescribe antibiotics. There are several different tick agents that can prevent tick bites in dogs. Read more about ticks and tick products for dogs and cats here.

How is Lyme disease transmitted?

When a tick that is a carrier of the Lyme bacterium sucks itself into the skin, it will take some time before the Lyme bacterium is transmitted. It generally takes around 24 hours for the bacteria to move from the tick's intestinal system, where it resides, to the person the tick has attached itself to. It is therefore important to remove the tick as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

• A red, ring-shaped rash around the bite site called Erythema migrans. This is the most common and often the only symptom of Lyme disease. As a rule, the rash is larger than 5cm. The rash appears approximately 2-30 days after the tick bite, and gradually spreads outwards. Sometimes the rash gradually fades in the centre, other times it is uniformly red.

• Laxity.

• Headache.

• Muscle and joint pain.

• Swollen lymph nodes.

To be red a couple of cm. around the bite site is common even without Lyme disease. But if the rash gradually grows, this could be Erythema migrans. A good tip is to draw a ring around the red rash with a pen or marker. This way you can monitor whether the rash is growing.

After a few weeks to months after the tick bite, the infection can develop and affect other organs. This can, among other things, cause symptoms in the muscles, joints and heart. Serious complications such as facial paralysis and meningitis can occur.

Blood test for Lyme disease

As a rule, the diagnosis of Lyme disease can be made on the basis of the rash Erythema migrans. A blood test can also be taken to check whether you have antibodies against the Lyme bacteria. These antibodies will only be detectable several weeks after the bite. If it is suspected that the disease has spread to the nervous system (neuroborreliosis), a spinal cord test must also be taken in addition to a blood test.

Prevention of tick bites

• Use tick repellents.

• Walk on paths instead of areas with tall grass, bushes and undergrowth in areas with a lot of ticks.

• Cover yourself well with clothing (be extra careful to cover your legs and ankles) when you are in areas with a lot of ticks. Please wear long trousers. Check both skin and clothes after being in an area with a lot of ticks.

• Also check dogs and cats that move in tick areas. A veterinarian can prescribe preventive medicine against ticks in dogs and cats.