A single tick bite can have debilitating consequences. Lyme disease is the most common disease carried by ticks in the United States, and the number of those afflicted is growing steadily. If left untreated, the diseases carried by ticks-known as tick-borne diseases-can cause severe pain, fatigue, neurological problems, and other serious health problems. The Institute of Medicine held a workshop October 11-12, 2010, to examine the state of the science in Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, with more than 300,000 cases diagnosed each year. However, doctors are deeply divided on how to diagnose and treat it, giving rise to the controversy known as the “Lyme Wars.” Firmly entrenched camps have emerged, causing physicians, patient communities, and insurance providers to be pitted against one another in a struggle to define Lyme disease and its clinical challenges. Health care providers may not be aware of its diverse manifestations or the limitations of diagnostic tests. Meanwhile, patients have felt dismissed by their doctors and confused by the conflicting opinions and dubious self-help information found online. In this authoritative book, the Columbia University Medical Center physicians Brian A. Fallon and Jennifer Sotsky explain that, despite the vexing “Lyme Wars,” there is cause for both doctors and patients to be optimistic. The past decade’s advances in precision medicine and biotechnology are reshaping our understanding of Lyme disease and accelerating the discovery of new tools to diagnose and treat it, such that the great divide previously separating medical communities is now being bridged. Drawing on both extensive clinical experience and cutting-edge research, Fallon, Sotsky, and their colleagues present these paradigm-shifting breakthroughs in language accessible to both sides. They clearly explain the immunologic, infectious, and neurologic basis of chronic symptoms, the cognitive and psychological impact of the disease, as well as current and emerging diagnostic tests, treatments, and prevention strategies. Written for the educated patient and health care provider seeking to learn more, Conquering Lyme Disease gives an up-to-the-minute overview of the science that is transforming the way we address this complex illness. It argues forcefully that the expanding plague of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can be confronted successfully and may soon even be reversed.
Lyme borreliosis commonly known as lyme disease is now acknowledged as the most highly prevalent arthropod-borne human disease in northern temperate regions of the world. This book describes the basic characteristics of the disease, the biology of the pathogens in their vectors and vertebrate hosts, their ecology in different regions of the world and the global epidemiology of the disease. The final chapters address the prevention and control measures that have resulted from this knowledge.
The facts about Lyme disease, from epidemiology to treatment to control Lyme borreliosis, popularly known as Lyme disease, remains the most commonly reported tick-transmitted infection in North America and Europe. A growing body of scientific and clinical evidence has facilitated early diagnosis and effective treatment. Nonetheless, there are a number of misconceptions about this infectious disease that have given rise to unproven, potentially dangerous alternative therapies. In Lyme Borreliosis in Europe and North America, a team of authors whose expertise spans basic research, epidemiology, and clinical practice has compiled evidence-based information on Lyme borreliosis. Presents all the latest evidence needed to diagnose, treat, and prevent Lyme disease Lyme Borreliosis in Europe and North America begins with a review of the disease's epidemiology, the causative Borrelia genospecies, and tick vectors. It then explores pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Next, the book examines the role of serologic, culture, and molecular diagnostic methods. The book also features a chapter on prognosis, offering an evidence-based review of outcome studies, as well as practical advice to physicians to help them manage the challenging clinical scenario of chronic symptoms attributed to Borrelia infection. The final chapter is a guide to prevention strategies, including the management of tick bites. Examines similarities and differences in Europe and North America Because differences in Borrelia genospecies are responsible for differences in the clinical presentation of Lyme borreliosis between North America and Europe, this book provides descriptions of the disease as it presents on each continent. Most of the chapters have been cowritten by experts on each continent, in order to provide a balanced perspective that combines European and North American findings, practices, and experiences. Helps everyone better understand, treat, and control Lyme disease Lyme Borreliosis in Europe and North America is a comprehensive reference, ideal for clinicians, researchers, and public health officials who seek to treat and control Lyme borreliosis. It will help them better understand the facts and make sense of the misconceptions and myths that surround this infectious disease.
Lyme Borreliosis is a worldwide infectious disease causing a multisystem illness with considerable morbidity, particularly in North America and Europe. The causative agent is the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, which is usually transmitted by the ixodid tick from animal reservoirs. This book is formed by contributions from the Second European Symposium on Lyme Borreliosis, held at St George's Hospital Medical School, London in 1993, which reviewed the current state of knowledge of the condition with regard to clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, ecology, epidemiology, biology and immunopathogenesis. In this book, important data is reviewed concerning the clinical manifestations of Lyme Borreliosis. It seems that strain variation of the spirochaete is the main cause of regional differences seen in the clinical presentation of patients. One striking example of this, is the relatively high incidence of Lyme arthritis in the USA and apparent rarity of this manifestion in some areas of Europe. These important studies open the way for exciting new research that focuses on the immunological and molecular mechanisms that result in disease. A full insight into the ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi is essential to a balanced understanding of the disease and a number of excellent reviews on this subject are included. Significant advances with regard to the biology of Borrelia burgdorjeri and the immunopathogenic mechanisms that result in disease have been made, enabling the role of the Band T lymphocytes in disease to be established and the development of sophisticated phenotyping methods, improved diagnostic tests and effective vaccines.
Physicians and biologists from different backgrounds have contributed to this volume which provides a unique state-of-the-art approach to all aspects of Lyme borreliosis. From the biology of the transmitting tick to the most up-to-date serologic testing methods, all aspects are discussed.The first part of the book offers comprehensive and authoritative reviews on Lyme borreliosis and its vector. The second part answers frequently asked questions, for example 'What should one do in case of a tick bite?' or 'How do I manage tick bites and Lyme borreliosis in pregnant women?'All specialists who are involved in the care of patients with Lyme borreliosis ' such as physicians, general practitioners, internists, paediatricians, dermatologists, neurologists, rheumatologists, rehabilitations specialists, microbiologists, and last but not least infectious disease specialists ' will find this review, in which all specific aspects of the disease are covered, an outstanding reference text.
Keep your family safe from tick-borne infections With millions around the world infected-and millions more at risk-Lyme and other tick-related disorders are today's fastest-growing infectious diseases. And while there has been much progress in combating these illnesses, we are a long way from eliminating them. Early treatment is crucial-and there's no better way to get informed and be prepared to deal with these diseases than to read this book. This comprehensive guide tells you everything you need to know to protect yourself and your family from the pain of Lyme, including vital information about the new Lyme disease vaccines. Written by Lyme disease pioneer Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner-cofounder of the Lyme Disease Foundation and a Lyme sufferer herself-this updated and expanded edition provides the latest on the multiple diseases that can be transmitted in a single tick bite and the symptoms that indicate you've been infected. In easy-to-understand language, the author discusses the often controversial issues of diagnosis and treatment of Lyme while reviewing the other tick-borne diseases in North America, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, the emerging ehrlichioses, and some that are considered potential biowarfare agents. She offers expert advice on: * Protecting yourself from disease-carrying ticks-and what to do if you find one on your skin * Obtaining the best medical treatment * Accessing online information on vaccines, repellents, and the latest research * Finding self-help and support organizations, state medical complaint boards, products, and related services * Starting a school or business prevention program
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the genus borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi, in the strict sense. This book deals mostly with the molecular biology of the Lyme disease agent orrelia burgdorferi. It has been written by experts in the relevant field and is tailored to the need of researchers, advanced students of biology, molecular biology, molecular genetics of microorganism. It will also be of use to infectious disease experts and people in other disciplines needing to know more about Lyme borreliosis. The book contains chapters on the molecular biology of the Lyme disease agent, zoonotic peculiarities of Bb, advancement in Bb antibody testing, the serology diagnostic schemes in Bb, discovering Lyme disease in ticks and dogs, adaptation to glucosamine starvation in Bb, and porins in the genus borrelia.
A review of research on the ecology of Lyme disease in North America describes how humans get sick, why some years and places are so risky and others not, and offers a new understanding that embraces the complexity of species and their interactions.
