Lyme disease, also known asLyme borreliosis, is aninfectious disease. It is caused bybacteria of thegenusBorrelia. The disease is carried byticks. Ticks can be found in bed sheets and are parasitic on mammals such asmice,deer, and people. In other words, ticks are thevector which transmits the disease.
It is the most commontick-borne infection in theUnited States. Although Allen Steere realized in 1978 that Lyme disease was a tick-borne disease, the cause of the disease remained a mystery until 1982. It can causejoint swelling,rashes, andneurological symptoms.[1]
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Depending on disease stage and antibiotic used, treatment is usually between 10 and 28 days.[2]
