Question

A twenty-nine year old male presents to the ER complaining of headache, dizziness, fever, and a rash on his thigh that has since disappeared. Ten days earlier, he went camping and fishing in upstate New York with his old fraternity brothers. Physical exam remarkable for right facial palsy. EKG shows a heart block.

What is the most likely diagnosis?

What is the most likely offending agent? How was this organism named (i.e., what is the significance of this organism’s name)?

Who serves as the reservoirs for this disease?

Who serves as the vector for this disease?

What is the treatment of choice?

Answer 1

? Description

Lyme disease also is known as Lyme borreliosis is a clinical condition caused by a bacterium that gets transmitted by the help of a vector during mountain hikes or forest camping. At the site of the bite, a rash appears within a week along with fever, headache, tiredness, joint aches, neck stiffness, and loss of movement in one side of the face.

? Answer:

1. The most likely diagnosis of the patient is Lyme disease

2. It is caused by a bacterium Borrelia burdorferi. It is named after the researcher Willy Burgdorfer who for the first time isolated the bacterium.  

3. The primary reservoirs for Borrelia burdorferi is squirrels, chipmunks, shrews, and white-footed mouse.

4. The vector is the tick of the genus Ixodes.

5. Treatment of choice is antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone.

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