Lyme disease - early disseminated


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Definition

Secondary Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease characterized by cardiac and neurological symptoms caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick.


Alternative Names

Lyme disease - secondary or stage 2; Stage 2 Lyme disease


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

See Lyme disease for a description of the initial stages of the disease. Secondary Lyme disease develops within days to months after the tick bite, when the infection spreads via the lymph system or bloodstream.

The central nervous system and cardiac system may be affected. Symptoms may be intermittent and may disappear after days, weeks, or months. Involvement of the heart occurs in 8% of people with untreated Lyme disease. Neurologic involvement occurs in 10% of patients with untreated Lyme disease.



Review Date: 02/13/2006
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.


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