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Lyme disease
(līm)
a recurrent, multisystem disease caused by infection with the spirocheteBorrelia burgdorferi.Vectors for human infection are the ticks Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus; tick control is one of the most important aspects of control of the disease. After a person has been in an area where ticks
may be present, they should check all over their body for ticks and remove any that are found. The symptoms of Lyme disease
resemble those of many other disorders, making diagnosis difficult. The first symptoms usually resemble those of influenza.
Most people will also develop a rash that can be circular or oblong and is hot to the touch. Later there may be multisystem
complications such as arthritis of the large joints, muscle pain, malaise, and neural and heart manifestations. Called also Lyme arthritis.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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