Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks. Erythema migrans (EM) is estimated to occur in 80% of infected patients within 30 days of exposure. If erythema migrans occurs in a patient following a tick bite in endemic area, then empiric treatment is warranted.

CASES/YEAR
300,000 (US); 1,000,000 (Global)
CATEGORY
Arthropod-Borne
AGENT TYPE
Bacteria
OTHER NAMES
Lyme borreliosis; Tickborne meningopolyneuritis; Borrelia burgdorferi infection; Southern tick-associated rash illness (Related Infection);
ACUITY
Acute-Moderate
INCUBATION
Erythema migrans: average of 7-10 days with range of 3-32 days; [CCDM]
INITIAL SYMPTOMS
Erythema migrans (EM) is estimated to occur in 80% of infected patients within 30 days of exposure. "EM is a red, expanding rash, with or without central clearing." often accompanied by flu-like symptoms. [CDC Travel]
PRECAUTIONS
Standard; "Not transmitted from person to person." [CDC 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions]
COMMENTS
FINDINGS:
A red macule or papule (erythema migrans) is the initial finding in 70-80% of patients. In the classic presentation, the macule or papule expands concentrically with central clearing (annular shape), reaching a diameter of at least 5 cm. Other symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, myalgia, arthralgia, and lymphadenopathy. Lyme disease does not develop in experimental animals unless the tick has been attached for 36 hours or longer (May be shorter for Ixodes ricinus;). Weeks to months after onset of erythema migrans, about 5% of patients develop arthritis, 3% have neurological complications, and less than 1% develop cardiac manifestations. [CCDM, p. 363-4] Most patients do not recall a tick bite because the nymph stage of the deer tick is so small. Other stage 2 findings include hematuria, malar rash, urticaria, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, pharyngitis, cough, and splenomegaly. Other possible findings (occurred in a few cases) are orchitis, iritis, choroiditis, myelitis, and osteomyelitis. In children, optic nerve damage may lead to blindness. [PPID, p. 2914-17] Lyme meningitis is preceded by erythema migrans (by 2-10 weeks) in less than 1/2 of cases. Most prominent are symptoms of headache and stiff neck. Other symptoms are fever, fatigue, aches, and weight loss. [PPID, p. 1199] The three stages are: 1.) Early localized (erythema migrans); 2.) Early disseminated (flu-like symptoms that may last for weeks followed by meningitis, Bell's palsy, or heart block); and 3.) Late (arthritis occurring in about 60% of patients usually within several months of erythema migrans); Less common findings are nausea/vomiting, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. [Merck Manual, p. 1716] EM varies in appearance; it is vesicular-pustular in about 5% of cases, and it may be purpuric on the lower legs. Patients may have tender regional lymphadenopathy. About 20% of patients in the US have more than one EM at the time of diagnosis. Multiple EMs are thought to be caused by hematogenous dissemination of the spirochetes. About 60% of patients not treated with antibiotics will develop arthritis about 6 months after EM with a range of 4 days to 2 years. Tick-bite hypersensitivity reactions occur within 48 hours of the bite, are often pruritic, and do not last as long as EM. EM lasts about 4 weeks. Unlike EM, erythema multiforme often involves mucous membranes, palms, and soles. [Cecil, p. 1992-6]

EPIDEMIOLOGY:
The enzootic transmission cycle is maintained by ixodid ticks and wild rodents. [CCDM] A vaccine became available in 1999, but it was withdrawn by the only manufacturer in 2002. [PPID, p. 2921] Deer play an important role in feeding and transporting ticks, but they are not a competent reservoir for the spirochetes. [Cecil, p. 1991]

LABORATORY TESTING:
Testing not indicated for patients with subjective symptoms only, e.g., fatigue and muscle pain; High rate of false positives (up to 90%) for IgM Western blot when screening patients with symptoms >1 month; [ABX Guide] CDC criteria: IgM western blot must show at least 2 of 3 defined bands and IgG western blot must show at least 5 of 10 bands to be considered positive. [Harrisons, p. 516] Clinical diagnosis (EM and travel to endemic area) is sufficient. Perform 2-tiered serological testing (ELISA/IFA and confirmatory Western blot) for cases of possible disseminated infection. Test with C6-based ELISA if Lyme infection acquired overseas. [CDC Travel, p. 266]

RELATED INFECTIONS:
Several different strains of B. burgdorferi have been identified in Europe. Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) is a related infectious disease that has not yet been completely defined. It resembles Lyme disease with the typical erythema migrans type of rash. However, STARI follows the bite of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) while Lyme disease follows the bite of the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificis). The spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, causes Lyme disease. Tests for Borrelia burgdorferi are negative in patients with STARI. Treatment is with doxycycline or amoxicillin, and there are no late manifestations. [PPID, p. 3510-11] See http://www.cdc.gov/stari/.
DIAGNOSTIC
Interpret serology with caution in early stages: insensitive in first weeks & may remain negative after antibiotics; [CCDM] Diagnose clinically; Use paired sera in confusing cases; Acute serology negative in 30-70% of early infections. [ABX Guide]
SCOPE
USA, Canada, Europe, Russia, China & Japan; High incidence in eastern USA linked to repopulation of white-tailed deer, on which ticks feed; [CCDM]
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
  • >arthralgia
  • >fatigue, weakness
  • >fever
  • >myalgia
  • E pharyngitis
  • G liver function test, abnormal
  • G nausea, vomiting
  • H lymphadenopathy
  • H splenomegaly
  • N headache
  • N paresthesia
  • N seizure
  • N stiff neck
  • O conjunctivitis, acute
  • R chest pain
  • R cough
  • R dyspnea
  • S cellulitis or rash, circinate
  • S entry wound with lymph nodes
  • S papules or plaques
  • S petechiae and ecchymoses
  • S pustule
  • S rash (exanthem)
  • S skin blister or vesicles
  • S skin or subcutaneous nodule
  • S urticaria
  • U hematuria
  • *arthritis
  • *blindness
  • *cranial neuropathy
  • *encephalitis
  • *epididymo-orchitis
  • *hepatitis
  • *meningitis
  • *myelitis
  • *myocarditis
  • *osteomyelitis
  • *paralysis
  • *pericarditis
  • *peripheral neuropathy
  • *uveitis
ANTIMICROBIC

Yes

VACCINE

No

ENTRY
VECTOR
Ticks
RESERVOIR
Cattle, Goats and Sheep, Deer, Elk and Antelope, Dogs, Horses, Rodents, Wild Animals
RISK FACTORS
  • Travel to endemic area
  • Work or play in tick-infested area
TREATMENT
If erythema migrans following a tick bite in endemic area, then empiric treatment warranted. [5MCC-2020]
DRUG LINK
CDC - Lyme Disease
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) Published in MMWR 2011 = 33,097; Estimated 300,000 cases/year; [http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html#humanCases]
2. (Global) Most cases in Europe are reported in the mid-continent and in Scandinavia; [Harrison ID, p. 683] Every year >26,000 cases in US; Also cases in Europe, and Asia, and Russia; [5MCC-2020] Using 300,000 cases/year (See US Stats.), estimate 1 million cases/year globally;