Lyme disease

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, with one source specifying Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato as the etiologic agent ^[1][2][3]. It is characterized in the available literature as a vector-borne bacterial illness transmitted to humans by certain Ixodes ticks ^[2]. Source-backed detail on formal staging or alternative etiologic descriptors is not yet available beyond these statements ^[1][2][3].

The clinical picture is described as diverse, with death noted to be rare in the available epidemiologic abstract ^[2]. A recent abstract reports that many cases are recognized at the onset of erythema migrans rash, which may be single or multiple and may appear either homogeneous or in a bull’s-eye pattern ^[3]. Early dissemination may lead to neurologic and cardiac complications ^[3]. Untreated patients may develop mono- or oligoarticular arthritis, and approximately 10% of treated patients are reported to experience persistent symptoms ^[3].

Lyme disease is reported as the most common vector-borne illness in North America and Europe and the most common vector-borne disease in the United States ^[2][3]. The distribution of risk is linked to the distribution and abundance of Ixodes ticks, ecological factors affecting tick infection rates, and human behaviors that promote tick bites ^[2]. The tick vector is described as being widely found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and its range is reported to be expanding ^[2][3]. In the northeastern United States, where disease is most common, exposure occurs primarily in areas immediately around the home ^[2].

Transmission occurs by certain species of Ixodes ticks that carry Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and infect humans through tick bites ^[2]. Risk of infection is shaped by vector abundance, tick infection ecology, and human behaviors that increase exposure to tick bites ^[2]. Source-backed detail on any non-tick transmission route is not yet available in the supplied material ^[2][3].

Higher incidence is reported among children aged 5 to 15 years and adults older than 50 years ^[2]. In the northeastern United States, where disease is most common, exposure is described as occurring mainly around the home, suggesting that residents in such settings may be especially relevant to local surveillance ^[2]. Beyond these groups, source-backed detail on additional risk groups is not yet available ^[2].

The supplied sources emphasize patient education and early recognition and treatment as important measures to reduce the impact of chronic long-term infection ^[1]. Because risk is tied to tick exposure, prevention in the source material is also framed around avoiding behaviors that promote tick bites and understanding local vector ecology ^[2]. Source-backed detail on specific preventive interventions, schedules, or personal protective measures is not yet available in the provided snippets ^[1][2].

For surveillance purposes, Lyme disease should be interpreted as a vector-borne infection with geographically patterned risk and changing vector range, rather than as a uniform exposure event ^[2][3]. Case finding may be influenced by recognition of erythema migrans and by the fact that serologic antibody testing is reported to have low sensitivity at onset but higher sensitivity after a few weeks ^[3]. Because clinical features are diverse and death is rare, monitoring should pay attention to early localized presentations, dissemination, and persistent post-treatment symptoms as reported in the sources ^[2][3].

1. 1 Carriveau A et al. Lyme Disease. Nurs Clin North Am. 2019 Jun. PMID: 31027665. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2019.02.003. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31027665/
2. 2 Mead P et al. Epidemiology of Lyme Disease. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Sep. PMID: 36116831. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.03.004. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36116831/
3. 3 Smith RP et al. Lyme Disease. Ann Intern Med. 2025 May. PMID: 40354663. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-01111. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40354663/
4. 4 Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis). FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology. 1997. doi: 10.1016/s0928-8244(97)00055-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0928-8244(97)00055-2
5. 5 Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis). Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2003. doi: 10.1016/s1521-6942(02)00129-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1521-6942(02)00129-8
6. 6 Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis). FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology. 1997. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01053.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01053.x

ICD-10

ICD-11

Total cases

246K

Peak month

2013-08

Coverage

5 reporting countries · 2013-01-01 → 2016-12-31