Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can feature a skin rash (about 40 % will develop the rash), swollen joints, extreme fatigue, and flu-like symptoms. You can get the disease from the bite of an infected tick.  Recent research suggests it can be transmitted by mosquitoes and bodily fluid exchange much like syphylis). Sometimes it is difficult to know if you have Lyme disease because you may not have noticed a tick bite. Also, many of its symptoms are like those of other diseases. Symptoms may include

• A skin rash, often resembling a bulls-eye
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Stiff neck
• Swelling of knees and other large joints and arthritis
• Memory deficits
• Adrenal fatigue
• Thyroid problems
• Debilitating fatigue
• Cognitive impairment
• Abnormal brain MRI with signal enhancement (brain swelling)
• Heart damage

These are just a few of the symptoms.

In the early stages, doctors look at your symptoms and medical history to figure out whether you have Lyme disease. In the later stages of the disease, lab tests can confirm whether you have it.

Antibiotics may possibly cure early stage Lyme disease. If not treated in the very early stage, the disease can progress and cause problems with the joints, heart and brain/nervous system.  Recent research indicates that some patients who died of Alzheimer's Disease had Lyme bacteria in their brains, seen during autopsy.

There are many species of Lyme or Borrelia that have been identified in different parts of the USA as well as different species in other countries.  There are many vectors for disease transmission.  Rodents, deer, birds, horses, dogs, and other animals are parasitized by ticks (Ixodes tick in particular, though this does not exclude other ticks transmitting Lyme Disease).  Birds may transfer ticks to other areas resulting in more widespread disease than once thought. 

HOW DO YOU GET IT?

More recent research shows that:  Transmission of the disease has been clearly documented after bites by fleas, mites, mosquitos and ticks. There is compelling evidence that Lyme disease (LD) can be spread by sexual and congenital transfer. 

See this link for transmission modes:  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_252/ai_n6110580

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

If one is diagnosed early with Lyme Disease, often with the erythema migrans rash as an indicator of infection, doxycycline for a month or so is supposed to cure the illness.  There is documentation in the literature, that the spirochete can reach the brain in less than 10 days so immediate treatment is necessary.

Most people do not realize they have gotten Lyme Disease or the co-infections for months to years.  Then the standard treatment by Lyme-literate doctors, is IV rocephin for months at a time, or IV doxycycline, claforan or bicillin shots, with oral antibiotics added later. However, many relapse from these treatments likely due to L-forms not being harmed by any of the antibiotics listed above, except possibly doxcycline.  See more on L-forms on the next page.