Lyme disease is an infectious, immune-mediated, multisystem disease. Recent epidemiologic data confirms that in the United States, Lyme disease is spreading faster than any other infectious disease except AIDS. The bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to humans by the bite of the deer tick, Ixodes dammini. If diagnosed and treated in its early stages, Lyme disease is less likely to result in later cardiac, neurologic, and arthritic complications. Arthritic complications account for 60% of all late manifestations. Nurses can play a major role in the prevention and early recognition of this disease. Early treatment with antibiotics can prevent subsequent complications.
莱姆病是一种传染性、免疫介导的多系统疾病。最近的流行病学数据证实，在美国，莱姆病的传播速度比除艾滋病之外的任何其他传染病都要快。引发莱姆病的细菌——伯氏疏螺旋体，通过鹿蜱（达敏硬蜱）叮咬传播给人类。如果在早期阶段得到诊断和治疗，莱姆病导致后期心脏、神经和关节炎并发症的可能性较小。关节炎并发症占所有晚期表现的60%。护士在这种疾病的预防和早期识别方面可以发挥主要作用。早期使用抗生素治疗可以预防后续并发症。
