Why can you get Lyme Disease more than once, doesn't your immune system produce antibodies against it?

Question

Medical Question about immunity?

Answer 1

Yes, even though your body produces antibodies against a pathogen you are susceptible to subsequent reinfection. Having antibodies against Borellia burgdorgeri only means that you may exhibit an increased resistance to infection. Remember, producing antibodies only provides resistance to extracellular pathogens. I believe that since B.burgdorferi is a spirochete, it should be an intracellular pathogen. [Survives and proliferates within the cells]

Also of interest is the emerging belief that chronic myalgia associated with late stage Lyme disease may actually be an autoimmune disease caused by similarities between surface antigen and human proteins/polysaccharides.

The above answers do not have a source... its 4 am....hope this made sense

Answer 2

Not only is one infection with Lyme disease hard to treat (because it can hide from your immune system) but you can get infected more than once. Like the common cold virus, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease can change its genes around to make different protiens. So the Lyme bacteria 1 may have proteins different than Lyme bacteria 2. So although your body made antibodies to the first infection, the second infection is slightly different.

Answer 3

I had lyme disease once. The doctor had caught in it's early stages and was able to give me a couple pills to get rid of it. If he hadn't recognized what it was I would of had it for the rest of my life, because it takes awhile for the disease to take effect. Lyme disease is a very tough disease and its not that easy.

Answer 4

Lyme Disease--Are You at Risk?
- Ticks, Deer, and You
- Symptoms and Problems
- Signs of Lyme Disease
- Treatment and Prevention
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19960622/article_01.htm

Answer 5

I don't think you "get" Lyme Disease more than once. I think that you contract it once and it goes into remission, then resurfaces from time to time. At least that's how it has been for my mom. She first contracted it about 10 years ago and it comes and goes.

Answer 6

It's called autoimmune disease. There are several kinds one of them is called Lupus. I have left you a link that shows more.

Answer 7

I've never heard that? Once you get it, they treat it, but I've heard it's for life and you never are cured, you still have to deal with problems for the rest of your life. I've known two people who got it from tics and they are doing okay, but they said it's for life.

I hope a specialist sees your question and can provide you answers from clinical exerience.

Answer 8

YES and for SURE