Borrelia Immune Response, Echevarne

Borrelia infections can activate a humoral immune response through the creation of antibodies and a T cell response. Once the Borrelia burgdorferi infection is no longer active, the T cell immune response should disappear.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
The first symptoms begin 3 to 30 days after an infected tick bites you. Symptoms may include:

• A red rash called erythema migrans: Most people with Lyme disease develop this lesion. It gets bigger over several days and may feel hot to the touch. It is usually not painful or itchy.
• Fever.
• Shaking chills.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Swollen lymph nodes.

If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. Symptoms may include:

• Severe headaches and stiff neck.
• Additional rashes on other areas of your body.
• Facial paralysis: Weakness in the facial muscles. It can cause drooping on one or both sides of the face.
• Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, especially in the knees and other large joints.
• Pain that comes and goes in the tendons, muscles, joints and bones.
• Heart palpitations: A feeling that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too hard or too fast.
• Irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis).
• Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath.
• Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
• Nerve pain.
• Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet.