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.
It may take as long as a month for symptoms to begin to appear, and these can vary from one patient to the next. There is normally a bull's-eye pattern of inflammation that forms around the bite, headache, achy joints and muscles, fever, chills, and fatigue. Some patients may also develop a body rash. Although uncommon, serious complications which may result include meningitis, Bell's palsy, eye or liver inflammation, miscarriage in pregnant women, and heartbeat irregularities.
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.
Because the symptoms seen with this sickness could also be caused by any one of several other disorders, they alone are not used for diagnosis. In the absence of the hallmark rash, the physician will likely ask the patient a number of questions, and request diagnostic lab tests to evaluate the blood for antibodies against this bacteria. The ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay, and Western blot tests are typically implemented.
If the tests confirm that the patient has Lyme disease, antibiotic therapy will be started immediately. The outlook for the patient's long-term recovery is improved substantially if treatment is administered promptly. A two to four week course of oral doxycycline or amoxicillin is most often given, but it is not recommended to continue it past this point since this may be harmful.
If a patient is exhibiting signs of cardiac or nervous system involvement, IV antibiotics may be administered for as much as two weeks. Nursing mothers or children under the age of 9, will be prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin instead of doxycycline, which is known to stain developing teeth. Patients who have an allergy to penicillin-based drugs, will be given erythromycin.
The best option is to prevent Lyme disease in the first place by taking some precautions before heading outdoors into wooded or grassy areas. Clothing should be snug-fitting, light in color, and pants should be tucked into boots or socks, and shirts tucked into pants. Staying on clearly marked paths, and applying the tick repellent Permethrin or a DEET-based repellent onto one's clothes can also help deter ticks. Upon leaving, inspect oneself and any others for ticks, careful removal can also eliminate the incidence of infection.
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.
It may take as long as a month for symptoms to begin to appear, and these can vary from one patient to the next. There is normally a bull's-eye pattern of inflammation that forms around the bite, headache, achy joints and muscles, fever, chills, and fatigue. Some patients may also develop a body rash. Although uncommon, serious complications which may result include meningitis, Bell's palsy, eye or liver inflammation, miscarriage in pregnant women, and heartbeat irregularities.
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.
Because the symptoms seen with this sickness could also be caused by any one of several other disorders, they alone are not used for diagnosis. In the absence of the hallmark rash, the physician will likely ask the patient a number of questions, and request diagnostic lab tests to evaluate the blood for antibodies against this bacteria. The ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay, and Western blot tests are typically implemented.
If the tests confirm that the patient has Lyme disease, antibiotic therapy will be started immediately. The outlook for the patient's long-term recovery is improved substantially if treatment is administered promptly. A two to four week course of oral doxycycline or amoxicillin is most often given, but it is not recommended to continue it past this point since this may be harmful.
If a patient is exhibiting signs of cardiac or nervous system involvement, IV antibiotics may be administered for as much as two weeks. Nursing mothers or children under the age of 9, will be prescribed penicillin or amoxicillin instead of doxycycline, which is known to stain developing teeth. Patients who have an allergy to penicillin-based drugs, will be given erythromycin.
The best option is to prevent Lyme disease in the first place by taking some precautions before heading outdoors into wooded or grassy areas. Clothing should be snug-fitting, light in color, and pants should be tucked into boots or socks, and shirts tucked into pants. Staying on clearly marked paths, and applying the tick repellent Permethrin or a DEET-based repellent onto one's clothes can also help deter ticks. Upon leaving, inspect oneself and any others for ticks, careful removal can also eliminate the incidence of infection.
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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