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.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
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.
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.
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.
Most patients can look forward to a complete recovery provided they receive early treatment. Antibodies can remain the bloodstream for as long as several years, but this does not mean that another infection cannot occur. Taking care to prevent exposure to the illness is always the best approach to take when going into the wilderness.
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.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
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.
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.
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.
Most patients can look forward to a complete recovery provided they receive early treatment. Antibodies can remain the bloodstream for as long as several years, but this does not mean that another infection cannot occur. Taking care to prevent exposure to the illness is always the best approach to take when going into the wilderness.
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