Lyme Disease Symptoms and Lyme Disease Treatment

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans by a type of infected ticks. Ticks are small arachnids that are found in plants and trees and survive on the blood of mammals, such as humans. Many times the bite of these insects is not known and these insects can suck blood for several days before falling out of the body. The longer this worm stays on the body, the more the risk of spreading the infection will remain. Lyme disease affects your skin, joints, heart and nervous system. In this article we will discuss about Lyme Disease Symptoms and Lyme Disease Treatment. Read more about the causes of Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Symptoms and Lyme Disease Treatment

How Common is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is the most common infection caused by ticks in Europe and North America. People who spend their time in places with trees or shrubs are more likely to get Lyme disease, because these areas are more animals that spread these insects, such as deer and rats.

Most insects bite in late spring, early summer, and fall, as this is the time of year when most people engage in outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.

What are the 3 stages of Lyme disease

There are three stages of Lyme disease:

• Stage 1 is called early localized Lyme disease. The bacteria have not yet spread throughout the body.
• Stage 2 is called early disseminated Lyme disease. The bacteria have begun to spread throughout the body.
• Stage 3 is called late disseminated Lyme disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?

The earliest and most common symptom of Lyme disease is the formation of a pink or red round rash around the bite site three to 30 days after an insect bite. This rash sometimes looks like a bull's-eye on a dart board. You may also have flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headache, and muscle or joint pain. If Lyme disease is left untreated, other symptoms may appear after a few months or years, such as:

• Muscle pain
• Joint pain and swelling in joints
• Neurological symptoms, such as temporary paralysis of the facial muscles

Lyme disease in its later stages can cause symptoms such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. This is called chronic Lyme disease. However, more research needs to be done on this stage of Lyme disease. A person with Lyme disease cannot spread the disease because the infection is transmitted only by ticks.

Lyme disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose unless the rash is present in the early stages because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. If Lyme disease is suspected, it may be possible to diagnose it with a blood test, but this should be done after a few weeks to prevent false reports. The most common symptoms of early-stage Lyme disease include a circular skin rash called erythema migrans.

Can Lyme Disease go Away Itself

It is possible for a person with Lyme disease to cure the infection on its own, but it is preferable to be treated since consequences can be severe. Most people's diseases and symptoms do not go away on their own.

What happens if Lyme disease is left Untreated

If left untreated after an infected insect bite, Lyme disease can cause severe symptoms in the coming weeks or sometimes even months after. If you are not treated with antibiotics in the beginning, only then you will notice later symptoms.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease can develop three to 30 days after being bitten by an infected insect. The rash appears at the site of the insect bite and sometimes it looks like a bull's eye made on a dart board. The affected area of ​​skin is red and feels slightly raised to the touch.
This rash can range in size from 2 cm to 30 cm (0.7 to 12 in) and in most people it can grow in size over several days to a few weeks. In many people, the only rash is a symptom of Lyme disease.

Some people initially have flu-like symptoms such as:

• Exhaustion
• Muscle Pain
• Joint Pain
• Headache
• Fever Or Shivering
• Stiff Neck

If it is not treated, it can lead to serious problems later. It can also affect the joints, nerves and in some cases the heart. Seek help from a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Joint pain

Some individuals may complain of inflammatory arthritis (swelling and pain in the joints). But even if symptoms like joint pain are left without treatment, they get better on their own.

Neurological Symptoms

Neurological symptoms (those affecting the nervous system) may include:

• Numbness And Pain In Your Limbs
• Partial paralysis of the muscles in your face – usually affecting one half of the face (sometimes called Bell's palsy)
• Memory Loss
• Trouble Concentrating
• Personality Changes
• In some rare cases, people get a type of bacterial meningitis. This is a serious condition in which the meninges (the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) become inflamed.

Symptoms are:

• Severe Headache
• Stiff Neck
• Sensitivity To Light (photophobia)

Heart Conditions

In rare cases, untreated Lyme disease can lead to inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

Myocarditis can cause an irregular heartbeat and sometimes blockage in the heart.

Symptoms include:

• Breathlessness
• Fainting

Diagnosing Lyme Disease.

Once confirmed, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. Depending on the stage of Lyme disease, you will be given a course of antibiotics. You will usually have to take them for two to four weeks. Lyme disease is a disease that is difficult to diagnose, especially in the later stages. That's because its symptoms are similar to those of more common diseases, such as infections and arthritis.

A pink or reddish bull's eye rash is important in diagnosing Lyme disease, and about 90 percent of people develop a rash within 30 days of being bitten. If you haven't had a rash but are experiencing later symptoms of Lyme disease, such as joint pain or flu-like symptoms, be sure to tell your doctor if you've spent time in dense trees or bushes. If there is a possibility that you have been bitten by an insect, your doctor may refer you for tests to confirm or rule out Lyme disease.

Testing for Lyme disease needs to be done a few weeks after an insect bite because it takes so long for the infection to develop. If the symptoms of Lyme disease are showing even after the negative report comes, then there will be a need to get tested again.

Tests used to diagnose Lyme disease are:
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Test
western blot test

These are described here.

ELISA Test

The first type of blood test is known as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. This test checks for specific antibodies produced by your immune system to kill the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

The ELISA test is not 100% accurate because it sometimes gives a positive result (this is called a false-positive result) even if you are not suffering from Lyme disease. This happens when you are showing symptoms due to some other condition Such as syphilis, glandular fever or rheumatoid arthritis. Because of this, a positive ELISA test is followed by a western blot test.

Western Blot Test

In the western blot test, a small sample of blood is taken. The proteins in the blood are separated and placed on a thin sheet made of permeable material. These are then studied for antibodies used by the immune system to fight the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be confirmed if both the ELISA test and the Western blot test result are positive.

Causes Of Lyme Disease.

Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. This bacterium is found in the blood of many species, including rats, deer, pheasants, and blackbirds. If an insect bites an animal that contains germs, the worm becomes affected as well. When an infected bug bites and sucks blood from a human, the bacterium enters that person.

These insects are very small and their bite does not feel any kind of pain, so you do not feel their bite. However, if this worm has been sticking to your body for more than 24 hours, then the risk of getting infected increases even more. Once infected, the bacteria enter your bloodstream and lymphatic system from your skin. The lymphatic system helps fight infection and is made up of a group of vessels and glands (lymph nodes). These bacteria can also damage the joints and nervous system if left untreated. Later on, other symptoms of Lyme disease will also start appearing.

Treatment Of Lyme Disease

Oral antibiotics (tablets, capsules, and liquid) are recommended for the treatment of Lyme disease. Most people have to take a course of two to four weeks depending on their condition. If you have been given antibiotics, you will need to complete the course even after your condition improves as this will ensure that the bacteria are completely eradicated.

Antibiotic injections (intravenous antibiotics) may be used if your symptoms are mild and are causing arthritis or neurological problems. Most people with later symptoms of Lyme disease need to take intravenous antibiotics. Some antibiotics (both oral and intravenous) used to treat Lyme disease can make your skin sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity). You should check the prescription that comes with the medicine to see if this can happen. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and do not use tanning equipment until the course is over.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

As a general rule, antibiotics are not prescribed during pregnancy as a precaution as they can affect the development of the baby. However, if there is a positive result for Lyme disease, you may be given antibiotics during pregnancy that are safe, such as azithromycin or clarithromycin.

If antibiotics are not prescribed, you will need to see your doctor again to check your symptoms. The Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which causes Lyme disease, cannot be transferred from breast milk to babies, so there is no risk in breastfeeding if you have Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Prevention

There is currently no vaccine available to treat Lyme disease. A vaccine was made in the US in 2002, but it was not used because of side effects.

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to protect yourself from being bitten by these insects when you go among trees or in a shrubbery where these insects are likely to occur. The following precautions can protect you from Lyme disease:

• Wear long sleeve shirts.
• Put your pants inside your socks.
• Use insect repellant.
• Check yourself for insects sticking to the body.
• Check for insects sticking to the bodies of your children and pets.

If you do find a worm on your or your child's skin, gently pull it away while holding it as close to the skin as possible. For this it would be fine to use a sharp toothed tweezer. Never use a lit cigarette, matchstick or essential oil to remove it. Some veterinary surgery and pet shops sell inexpensive tick removal equipment and may be of benefit to you if you frequently visit areas with these worms.

There is no vaccine available to prevent Lyme disease at the moment. The easiest method to avoid Lyme disease is to take the necessary measures and to be cautious while visiting a high-risk location.

Keep your risk of getting it in mind when traveling to European countries or North America.

You can reduce your risk of infection in these ways:

• Beware of these insects and be aware of the area where they are found
• Use the sidewalk when going out and don't walk through tall grass
• Dress well in insect-prone areas (wear a long-sleeved shirt and keep the pants between your socks)
• Wear light colored clothing so you can see the insects sticking to them
• Use repellant to protect against insects
• Check for insects on your skin, especially at the end of the day, as well as on your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, between the thighs and groin)
• Also check your baby's head, neck and upper part of their head
• Make sure that insects do not come to your home by sticking to your clothes
• Also check your pets to see if any insects are entering your home by sticking to their fur.

Where Are These Insects Found?

These insects can be found in dense or overgrown vegetation, where they can reach the animals from which they get their food. Although they usually occur in areas with wood and shrubs, they can also occur in gardens or parks where such vegetation is present.

Who Is At Risk?

People who visit wooded areas and shrublands and participate in activities that take place in these places are at greater risk of Lyme disease. For example:

• Hikers
• Campers
• Farmer
• Forest Worker
• Soldier
• Gamekeepers

Most insects bite during the late spring, early summer, and fall seasons, as this is the time of year that people engage in outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.