Lyme Disease: pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment

Abstract

Lyme disease is a complex infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes. This study reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment of the disease, considering its increasing global prevalence. Transmission occurs mainly in endemic areas such as parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, influenced by the life cycle of ticks and their vertebrate hosts. Integrative research methods were employed to analyze scientific studies available in specialized databases such as MEDLINE.Lyme disease presents a variety of clinical manifestations that evolve through distinct stages: early localized, disseminated, and chronic. Initial symptoms include erythema migrans, followed by systemic manifestations such as arthritis, neurological, and cardiac manifestations. Early diagnosis is challenging due to the nonspecificity of initial symptoms and the limitation of available diagnostic tests. Treatment is based on antibiotic therapy, with an emphasis on early administration to prevent long-term complications. Despite this, a significant percentage of patients develop post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, characterized by persistent symptoms after adequate treatment. This study highlights the importance of public education for prevention, emphasizing personal protection measures against tick bites and the ongoing development of effective control and treatment strategies to address the challenges posed by Lyme disease."