Lyme arthritis (Lyme disease)
After a tick bite can cause an infection with the pathogen, "Borrelia burgdorferi". Following such a bite can develop arthritis, which was named after a town in the U.S., this form of arthritis was first observed, as Lyme arthritis.
The exact origin of the arthritis after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi is not yet clear. Persons who had contact with this pathogen, but develop antibodies against a specific Borrelia protein molecule (OspA),. A portion of this molecule has similarities with another protein molecule of human cells, so that in some people, these are attacked by its own immune system.
Frequency
The incidence of this disease is difficult to estimate. In Central Europe, about 10% of Population such have been through an infection. Since Lyme arthritis, but only in the late stage of the disease occurs (up to one year after the tick bite) and also not take any, the number of people affected is difficult to identify.
Symptoms
- Night and morning pain in the joints
- Sudden onset of illness
- Hafter change course with asymptomatic intervals
- Often only one or a few joints are affected
Diagnosis
The detection of the pathogen rarely achieve. In general, the diagnosis of the disease history (tick bite) and the detection of antibodies in the blood depends.
Complications
- Joint stiffness and loss of function
- Pericarditis and pleurisy