Neuroborreliosis

Neuroborreliosis is a disease of the nervous system caused by the bacterial species Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia is transmitted by tick bites  and can affect various organs and tissues in the body, including the nervous system.

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Symptoms of neuroborreliosis can vary from patient to patient and often depend on which part of the nervous system is affected. Possible symptoms include headaches, stiff neck, blurred vision, dizziness, paralysis, numbness and tingling in the extremities, bladder and bowel disorders, and mood swings.

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The diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis is made by a combination of physical examination with assessment of symptoms, blood tests for antibodies to Borrelia, and tests of the nervous system, such as a lumbar puncture or brain imaging Backmarks.

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Treatment for Lyme neuroborreliosis usually consists of intravenous antibiotic therapy, which can last several weeks, to eliminate the Borrelia and reduce inflammation in the nervous system.

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The history of Lyme neuroborreliosis goes back to the 1920s when the doctor Alfred Bannwarth discovered a specific form of Lyme neuroborreliosis that was named after him. He described symptoms such as arthritis, swollen lymph nodes, and skin changes associated with nerve symptoms.

In the 1970s, work by Willy Burgdorfer and other researchers identified Lyme disease as a separate disease. Ticks have been found to transmit the bacteria and the disease is found in people in different parts of the world.