home > drugs a-z list > lymerix (lipoprotein outer surface a vaccine) drug center

Lyme Disease »

Lyme disease facts

• Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that is spread by tick bites.
• Lyme disease can affect the skin, joints, heart, and the nervous system.
• Lyme disease occurs in phases -- the early phase beginning at the site of the tick bite with an expanding ring of redness.
• Lyme disease is diagnosed based on the patient's clinical signs of illness and the detection of Lyme antibodies in the blood.
• Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.

What is Lyme disease? What causes Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete." In the United States, the actual name of the bacterium is Borrelia burgdorferi. In Europe, another bacterium, Borrelia afzelii, also causes Lyme disease. Certain ticks found on deer harbor the bacterium in their stomachs. Lyme disease is spread by these ticks when they bite th...

Read the Lyme Disease article »