Why it is important to understand the cause behind Lyme disease

1. Why it is important to understand the cause behind Lyme disease Lyme disease may occur in any part of the United States. Peak incidence occurs in June, with a smaller peak in September, due to increased tick activity during early summer and autumn months when outdoor activities can place people at increased risk of exposure to ticks, and hence tick bites. Some cases occur after traveling abroad, as Lyme disease is reported more commonly in Europe, Asia and parts of the United States and Canada. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that you are getting from an infected tick bite. At first, symptoms such as rash, fever, headache, and fatigue usually cause Lyme disease. But the infection can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system if it is not treated early. Prompt treatment can help you make a quick recovery. What causes Lyme disease? Bacteria cause Lyme disease. This is commonly a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States. The bite of an infected tick spreads to humans. The ticks which spread it are blacklegged ticks (or ticks to deer). In general, they are found in: Northeast Mid-Atlantic Upper Midwest Pacific coast, especially northern California You can attach those ticks to any part of your body. But they're often found in areas that are hard to see, such as your groin, armpits, and scalp. Usually, to spread the bacterium to you, the tick has to be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more. Who is at risk for Lyme disease? Anyone could get a bite from a tick. But people who spend lots of time in wooded, grassy areas outdoors are at a higher risk. This includes campers, hikers and those working in parks and gardens.

2. Most tick bites occur in the months of summer when ticks are most active and people spend more time outdoors. But if the temperatures are unusually high you can get bitten in the warmer months of early fall, or even late winter. And if a mild winter is in, ticks can come out earlier than usual. Risk factors People of all ages and both sexes are equally susceptible to Lyme disease, although in older adults aged 45–64 years the highest rates occur. Particularly at risk groups may include individuals participating in outdoor recreational pursuits (e.g. walkers, off-road cyclists, anglers and horse riders), school-age children, and occupational groups such as rural officers, conservation officers, and other outdoor workers. Signs and symptoms An important early sign of Lyme disease is a slowly expanding annular skin rash called erythema migrans (EM), found in around two-thirds of cases. This can occur within 1–4 weeks of a tick bite (with a range of 3 days to 3 months) and can last for several weeks. There is often a central clearing area that gives the rash the appearance of a bull's eye, though atypical rashes that are bruise-like or homogeneously red occur as well. Some patients may still have pain, fatigue, or trouble thinking after treatment which lasts more than 6 months. This is called Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) post-treatment. Investigators do not know why some people have PTLDS. There is no proven treatment for PTLDS; it hasn't been shown to help long-term antibiotics. There are however ways to help with PTLDS symptoms. If you've been treated for Lyme disease and are still feeling unwell, contact your health care provider on how to manage your symptoms. With time, most people do get better. But it may take several months before all of you feel better. The research team at IGeneX Bartonella IgXSpot, an enzyme-linked ImmunoSpot assay, using information derived from the DNA sequencing of PCR products from patient samples positive by Bartonella Genus PCR. developed the newly available Bartonella Western Blots and the In human serum or plasma, the Bartonella Multi-Species Western blot detects IgM and IgG antibodies specific to the genus Bartonella. It will recognize and differentiate B, too. and henselae, B. Vinson, B. Quintana. The Bartonella IgXSpot is an ImmunoSpot enzyme-linked assay that detects human T-cells that are reactive to specific Bartonella antigens in vitro. Despite Bartonella's increasing incidence, IGenex Lyme diagnostic tests for these organisms have until now been grossly insensitive and have not been able to detect many of the ever- growing list of known species and strains. The currently available serological and molecular tests lack sensitivity, may require repeated sampling of blood and may take weeks to report results. The newIGeneX test methods have surmounted many of those obstacles.