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.
Only a small percentage of tick bites will lead to Lyme disease, but in cases where one suspects they have a tick bite, it's best to consult a physician. With timely treatment, most patients will fully recovery, but left alone, this illness can have damaging permanent effects on the nervous system and can cause arthritis.
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 Lyme disease is positively identified, antibiotic therapy will be administered to the patient. The sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis for overcoming the illness. Usually amoxicillin or doxycycline will be prescribed, to be taken orally for two weeks to four weeks. Antibiotics taken for longer than this could actually do more harm than good.
Patients who have nervous system or cardiac involvement may be given antibiotics through an IV drip for up to two weeks. Children under the age of 9 or women who are breast-feeding, will be given either amoxicillin or penicillin, as doxycycline can stain developing teeth. Erythromycin is often given to those who are allergic to penicillin-based drugs.
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.
With prompt antibiotic therapy, most patients will recover from this condition with no long-term effects. However, one bout of this illness does not provide immunity against future infections, even though the antibodies may remain in the bloodstream for up to several years. It is still highly advisable to take the recommended precautions when going outdoors in places that are possibly inhabited by the deer tick.
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.
Only a small percentage of tick bites will lead to Lyme disease, but in cases where one suspects they have a tick bite, it's best to consult a physician. With timely treatment, most patients will fully recovery, but left alone, this illness can have damaging permanent effects on the nervous system and can cause arthritis.
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 Lyme disease is positively identified, antibiotic therapy will be administered to the patient. The sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis for overcoming the illness. Usually amoxicillin or doxycycline will be prescribed, to be taken orally for two weeks to four weeks. Antibiotics taken for longer than this could actually do more harm than good.
Patients who have nervous system or cardiac involvement may be given antibiotics through an IV drip for up to two weeks. Children under the age of 9 or women who are breast-feeding, will be given either amoxicillin or penicillin, as doxycycline can stain developing teeth. Erythromycin is often given to those who are allergic to penicillin-based drugs.
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.
With prompt antibiotic therapy, most patients will recover from this condition with no long-term effects. However, one bout of this illness does not provide immunity against future infections, even though the antibodies may remain in the bloodstream for up to several years. It is still highly advisable to take the recommended precautions when going outdoors in places that are possibly inhabited by the deer tick.
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