Acne and Skin Disorders Forum - Tick Bite and Lyme Disease

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Q: Tick Bite and Lyme Disease

asked by: DoctorQuestion on December 6th, 2006

I am inquiring for a friend, he was bitten by a Dear Tick several months ago, he didn't notice the tick until the area became infected. Almost immediately after he developed psoriasis like skin lesions on his elbows, then face, scalp ,stomach, and legs, he has no family history of this condition, the lesions are painful and have a burning sensation. His doctor is about to treat him with a medicine that requires some type of injection directly into his liver, and requires many blood tests for several weeks. He has no chronic diseases, and rarely is ill. He doesn't really want to have this procedure done, I don't blame him. Is there any possibility that these symptoms could be derived from some type tick borne illness, and if so what tests other than the normal Lyme disease would you recommend?

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on December 11th, 2006

Acne, Skin Disorders Answer A1906

Lyme disease is a chronic, systemic infective disease caused by the bacterium 'Borrelia burgdorferi'. The skin rash present during Lyme disease in the first (early) stages usually consists of red (erythematic) spots that start from the local bite and spread through the whole body (erythema migrans). During the second stage (late), the disease affects the heart, central nervous system, and joints. During the third (chronic) stage, inflammatory atrophic skin lesions (atrophic chronic acrodermatitis) occur around the joints and continue to affect the nerves, heart and joints. Lyme disease can be diagnosed by detecting anti-Borellia antibodies in the blood. Your friend SHOULD consult an infectologist and dermatologist immediately.

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