Lyme Disease Pathology

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Among scholars, there is a great deal of controversy when it comes to the diagnosis and pathology of Lyme disease. This is especially true when it comes to the neurological consequences associated with the disease. This paper will aim to describe the characteristics of many of the early and late stage neurological manifestations of the disease. This paper will include prevalent treatments for each of the described neurological manifestations. It will also describe similarities between Lyme disease and syphilis as they pertain to neurological disorders.
Lyme disease is a disease caused by a tick born spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi. Many neurological deficits have been observed secondary to a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Early in the illness, …show more content…
According to Shalabi, et al (2006), lymphocytic meningitis is an innocuous, painful form of aseptic meningitis. Its most common cause is the herpes simplex virus type 2, but it can also be caused by other sources such as Lyme disease. Common symptoms associated with lymphocytic meningitis are severe headaches, photophobia, fever, and meningism. These symptoms may be severe, but are self limiting (Shalabi, et al 2006). In approximately 50% of patients, transient neurological manifestations are observed. These include “…seizures, hallucinations, diplopia, cranial nerve palsies, or altered levels of consciousness” (Shalabi, et al 2006). Lymphocytic meningitis itself is self-limiting and rarely treated. Sometimes, IV acyclovir is administered for rapid resolution of symptoms.
Lyme associated radiculoneuritis is a PNS neuroborreliosis. It occurs when the spirochete affects one or more nerve roots. Symptoms usually include symmetrical or asymmetrical pain and neuro-abnormalities, such as numbness and tingling. Burning sensations and shooting pains are also often described. The location and severity of the sensations depend on which nerve root is affected, as well as the degree to which it is …show more content…
All neuroborreliosis are treated with parenteral or oral antibiotics. There are three main neurological manifestations of Lyme disease that directly infect the peripheral nervous system. They are Lymphocytic meningitis, radiculoneuritis, and cranial neuritis. Lyme encephalopathy affects the CNS without directly infecting the brain, so it is therefore not a neuroborreliosis. However, its treatment is the same as that of a neuroborreliosis. It is also the source of much controversy when it comes to diagnosing Lyme disease vs. other neurological disorders. There is a CNS neuroborreliosis that is mostly observed in Europe and rarely seen in the United States called encephalomyelitis. It often displays symptoms similar to that of multiple sclerosis. Lyme disease has many similarities to spirochete-causing syphilis. They both persist in tissue and cause episodic symptomatic manifestations. Its persistent nature leads to much controversy in Lyme disease
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