Lyme arthritis

1 4.9

Swelling and pain in a joint caused by the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, often appearing after a tick bite

noun
/laɪm ɑːrˈθraɪtɪs/

Specialized

: artritis de Lyme

She was diagnosed with Lyme arthritis after a tick bite.

Examples

The doctor explained that Lyme arthritis can develop months after a tick bite if the infection is untreated.
Children with Lyme arthritis often respond well to antibiotic treatment if caught early.
He was diagnosed with Lyme arthritis after experiencing persistent knee pain and swelling.
Many people experience Lyme arthritis symptoms in the summer.
Many patients experience joint pain and swelling due to Lyme arthritis after being bitten by infected ticks.
After her diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, she struggled with persistent joint inflammation and fatigue.
Doctors often recommend antibiotics to treat Lyme arthritis and reduce symptoms like swelling and pain.

How Severe

Lyme arthritis

Specialized

1 4.9

synovitis

Specialized

1 8.8

Surface Forms

Lyme arthritis singular

Lyme arthritides plural

Morphology

Lyme + arthritis

The headword 'arthritis' clearly signals joint inflammation, so a learner will recognize this is a type or form of arthritis. However 'Lyme' is a proper noun referring to Lyme disease (not a transparent lexical item) and the causal link to a tick-borne bacterial infection is not derivable from the word itself, so understanding the precise medical cause requires prior knowledge.

Etymology

Lyme arthritis gets its name from the town of Lyme in Connecticut, where doctors first noticed many people with joint problems after tick bites. The word arthritis means 'swollen, painful joints', so Lyme arthritis refers to joint swelling and pain caused by Lyme disease.