India, Aug. 4 -- Recently, singer Justin Timberlake shocked his fans by disclosing that he has been dealing with Lyme disease during his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour that ended recently. "Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected ticks aka deer tick. They are found in grassy or wooded areas, and latch on to a person's skin to feed on blood. When an infected tick bites a human, it can pass the bacteria into the bloodstream, potentially triggering a range of health issues," explains Dr Harshad Limaye, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai. Back in 2023, model Bella Hadid had also shared about her "100+ days" long battle with the disease. She shared pictures of the hospital visits and IV drips. While it isn't fatal, it needs to be nipped in the bud. Lyme disease affects hikers, trekkers and those who lead an outdoorsy life, as they are more likely to get bitten by ticks. Dr Trupti Gilada, Consultant, Infectious Disease Specialist, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, says, "One can get symptoms like fever or a rash on the site of the bite. Many times people might miss the bite and the rash begins to spread." Other symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. "If Lyme disease isn't treated, it can become a chronic condition," says Dr Anil KV Minz, Senior Consultant, Dermatology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad. "It can have long-term effects on the heart, joints and nervous system. One can treat it with oral antibiotics." One could also suffer from Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), which refers to the persistence of the symptoms after even the treatment is over. Dr Trupti adds, "Undergoing symptom relief, physical therapy and pain management could help."...