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.
Symptoms may vary from one person to another and may take up to one month from the time of the tick bite to appear. Joint pain, chills, fever, achy muscles, headache, and fatigue are common, as is a characteristic bull's-eye pattern around the site of the tick bite. A body rash may also develop. More serious but rare complications include heartbeat irregularities, Bell's palsy, weakness or impaired movement of the limbs, eye or liver inflammation, and meningitis. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Symptoms may vary from one person to another and may take up to one month from the time of the tick bite to appear. Joint pain, chills, fever, achy muscles, headache, and fatigue are common, as is a characteristic bull's-eye pattern around the site of the tick bite. A body rash may also develop. More serious but rare complications include heartbeat irregularities, Bell's palsy, weakness or impaired movement of the limbs, eye or liver inflammation, and meningitis. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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