Lyme disease rash: An uncommon infection

There are many diseases in the world that occurs in human body from various other sources. One of the diseases that is widespread and is transferred from the other species to the human body is the Lyme disease. It is actually a bacterial illness that caused by the bacterium known as spirochete. In the United States, this bacterium is called as the Borrelia burgdorferi.

In Europe, another type of bacterium named Borrelia afzelii also causes the same Lyme disease. The disease is spread through these ticks the moment when they bite the skin of a human being. Due to the bite of ticks, the bacterium is transported to the humans and causes major symptoms related to the disease. If anyone becomes a victim of Lyme disease, then the Lyme disease rash is the most common symptom. Lyme disease rash is the infection in the body, occurs from the bite of the ticks.

If a kind of rash found in your body then you should immediately visit the doctor and get it treated, as the disease may create more problems, making you sicker. Generally, ticks are very small and are hard to see. Immature ticks are something like the size of a poppy seed whereas; the adult ticks are of the size of a sesame seed. Lyme disease rash look like an oval or circular shaped infection on the skin. You could see two different circles, one is the inner circle, which is very thin or could be said the bite of a tick, and the other circle could be found surrounding the inner one. This is the first symptom occurs, if you get the disease.

Well, in many cases the Lyme disease rash is just the exception. Many people do not get any kind of rash, which becomes more difficult to find the disease. So it is very important for you to know the symptoms. Some of the people with this disease face flu-like symptoms, no matter whether the rash is present or not. The symptoms include, the most common symptom as lack of energy, joint and muscle pain, headache and stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, and fever and chills. In some of the cases, the person do not faces any of these symptoms at first stage.

Also read about Lyme disease treatment - Antibiotics to get rid of the disease

All About Lyme Disease Rash

The Lyme disease rash that is caused by Borrelia spirochetes is called erythema migrans. It is the most common symptom for the screening for Lyme disease as stipulated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Centers for Disease Control.

Erythema Migrans manifests itself as a round or oval rash that increase in size. The center of the lyme disease rash becomes reddish. The inner portions of the rash are clear. It gives the appearance of a bull’s eye rash. The appearance of the rash may vary from person to person.

It is possible for the center of the rash to be raised or eroded. A bluish red rash, resembling a bruise is also fairly common. There is also possibility of multiple rashes.

Nearly 10 percent of lyme disease rash are atypical in form. Such rashes are in danger of being ignored as they do not follow the regular pattern. In such cases, Lyme disease, too, can be struck off the list.

Most Lyme disease rashes range from five to 25 cm in diameter. It may cover an important part of the leg or torso. Multiple rashes are also possible.

Research by Dr Carmen Moreno and her colleagues at Universidad Autnoma, Madrid has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Research indicates that such rashes have a similar microscopic structure:

• Histiocytes increase in number at the deeper layers of the skin. Histiocytes are phagocytic cells that affect the immune system.
• Histiocytes can form rosettes in constellations surrounded by thickened collagen fibres.
• Polymerase chain reaction biopsies from the outermost layers of the rashes indicated DNA of Borrelia. This is in sharp contrast to biopsies from the center of the rashes. Out of 11 patients, five tested positive for ELISA. The IgM and IgG ELISA were inconclusive for the remaining six.