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 which typically manifest with this condition are also common to many others, it is necessary for the doctor to ask the patient a number of questions, examine him or her, and order lab tests which can confirm the presence of antibodies against this type of bacteria, usually the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or Western blot test is used for this purpose.
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.
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.
It is not difficult to prevent this illness by taking some simple precautions before spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Clothing should fit snugly, be light in color, and it's also best to tuck in pant-legs and shirt bottoms. Sticking to marked trails and not veering off into densely overgrown areas and applying a DEET-based repellent or Permethrin, a tick repellent can be helpful as well. Inspecting clothes and skin for signs of ticks should always be done when leaving the woods too.
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 which typically manifest with this condition are also common to many others, it is necessary for the doctor to ask the patient a number of questions, examine him or her, and order lab tests which can confirm the presence of antibodies against this type of bacteria, usually the ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or Western blot test is used for this purpose.
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.
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.
It is not difficult to prevent this illness by taking some simple precautions before spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Clothing should fit snugly, be light in color, and it's also best to tuck in pant-legs and shirt bottoms. Sticking to marked trails and not veering off into densely overgrown areas and applying a DEET-based repellent or Permethrin, a tick repellent can be helpful as well. Inspecting clothes and skin for signs of ticks should always be done when leaving the woods too.
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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