Lyme disease is an illness which occurs as the result of being bitten by a deer tick infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. People who frequently go camping or hiking through North America's and Europe's wooded areas have a higher chance of encountering deer ticks which is why they should learn how to recognize signs of the illness and how to treat Lyme disease as well as find out how they can reduce the risk of exposure to it.
The symptoms vary from person to person, and sometimes they don't appear until as long as one month after the tick bite occurred. Common symptoms include fever and chills, headache, sore joints and muscles, and fatigue, as well as a bull's-eye pattern at the bite site. Some patients will also have a body rash. While rare, serious complications include miscarriage in pregnant women, liver or eye inflammation, Bell's palsy, irregular heartbeat, weakness or immobility of limbs, and meningitis.
Not every tick bite will result in the development of this illness, however if someone believes they have been bitten, it's a good idea to visit the doctor right away for evaluation. Undetected, this disease can lead to long-term nervous system damage and arthritis. Early treatment is the key to a successful recovery.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
Intravenous antibiotics will likely be given for one or two weeks, to patients with involvement of the heart or nervous system. Instead of doxycycline which can discolor developing teeth, penicillin or amoxicillin will be prescribed if the patient is a child under the age of 9, or a breastfeeding mother. In the case of allergies to penicillin-based drugs, erythromycin is a suitable alternative.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
The symptoms vary from person to person, and sometimes they don't appear until as long as one month after the tick bite occurred. Common symptoms include fever and chills, headache, sore joints and muscles, and fatigue, as well as a bull's-eye pattern at the bite site. Some patients will also have a body rash. While rare, serious complications include miscarriage in pregnant women, liver or eye inflammation, Bell's palsy, irregular heartbeat, weakness or immobility of limbs, and meningitis.
Not every tick bite will result in the development of this illness, however if someone believes they have been bitten, it's a good idea to visit the doctor right away for evaluation. Undetected, this disease can lead to long-term nervous system damage and arthritis. Early treatment is the key to a successful recovery.
Diagnosis is not normally done based on symptoms alone since there are also many other conditions which have similar manifestations. Without the characteristic rash, the doctor will likely ask the patient a series of questions, and also order some lab tests to look for antibodies to this particular strain of bacteria, namely the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot tests.
Once confirmed, Lyme disease will be treated using antibiotics. How quickly treatment is begun plays a big role in determining the outcome for the patient. Doxycycline or amoxicillin are the usual drugs of choice and they are to be taken orally for a period of two to four weeks. It is not recommended to take antibiotics longer than this, as this could have an adverse effect.
Intravenous antibiotics will likely be given for one or two weeks, to patients with involvement of the heart or nervous system. Instead of doxycycline which can discolor developing teeth, penicillin or amoxicillin will be prescribed if the patient is a child under the age of 9, or a breastfeeding mother. In the case of allergies to penicillin-based drugs, erythromycin is a suitable alternative.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
Serious implications are generally not a issue with Lyme disease provided the patient seeks treatment right away. It is important to note however, that the presence of antibodies in the bloodstream does not mean that one is immune to future infections. Taking preventative measures before going outside is always recommended.
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