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Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the ''Borrelia'' type.〔 The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness, known as erythema migrans, that begins at the site of a tick bite about a week after it has occurred. The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful. About 25% of people do not develop a rash. Other early symptoms may include fever, headache, and feeling tired. If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness, or heart palpitations, among others. Months to years later, repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur. Occasionally, people develop shooting pains or tingling in their arms and legs. Despite appropriate treatment, about 10 to 20% of people also develop joint pains, have memory problems, and feel tired much of the time. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the ''Ixodes'' genus. Usually, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the bacteria can spread. In North America, the only bacterium involved is ''Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto'', while in Europe and Asia, the bacteria ''Borrelia afzelii'' and ''Borrelia garinii'' are also causes of the disease. The disease does not appear to be transmissible between people, by other animals, or through food.〔 Diagnosis is based upon a combination of symptoms, history of tick exposure, and possibly testing for specific antibodies in the blood. Blood tests are often negative in the early stages of the disease.〔 Testing of individual ticks is not typically useful. Prevention includes efforts to prevent tick bites such as by wearing long pants and using DEET.〔 Using pesticides to reduce tick numbers may also be effective.〔 Ticks can be removed using tweezers. If the removed tick was full of blood, a single dose of doxycycline may be used to prevent development of infection, but is not generally recommended since development of infection is rare.〔 If an infection develops, a number of antibiotics are effective, including doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime.〔 Treatment is usually for two or three weeks.〔 Some people develop a fever and muscle and joint pains from treatment which may last for one or two days.〔 In those who develop persistent symptoms, long-term antibiotic therapy has not been found to be useful.〔〔 Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. It is estimated to affect 300,000 people a year in the United States and 65,000 people a year in Europe.〔 Infections are most common in the spring and early summer.〔 Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in 1975 in Old Lyme, Connecticut (it was originally mistaken for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). The bacterium involved was first described in 1981 by Willy Burgdorfer. Chronic symptoms are well described and are known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, although it is often called chronic Lyme disease. Some healthcare providers claim that it is due to ongoing infection; however, this is not believed to be true. A previous vaccine is no longer available. Research is ongoing to develop new vaccines.〔 ==Signs and symptoms== Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems and produce a broad range of symptoms. Not all patients with Lyme disease have all symptoms, and many of the symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease, but can occur with other diseases, as well. The incubation period from infection to the onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks, but can be much shorter (days), or much longer (months to years).〔 Symptoms most often occur from May to September, because the nymphal stage of the tick is responsible for most cases.〔 Asymptomatic infection exists, but occurs in less than 7% of infected individuals in the United States.〔 Asymptomatic infection may be much more common among those infected in Europe.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lyme disease」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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