Lyme Disease

Facts about lyme disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease. You can get the disease when bacteria are transmitted into your body via a tick bite. Since Lyme disease is systemic, it can affect any bodily system and cause a host of symptoms that can seem unrelated until the diagnosis is made.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Nobody who has Lyme disease will have the exact same set of symptoms as any other sufferer. Many of the symptoms of Lyme disease can occur with a variety of other illnesses, many of them minor. It can one to two weeks after infection before symptoms occur.

The most well-known symptom of the disease is the Lyme disease rash. This rash looks like a bull’s eye and can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (where it is often missed). This rash is a circle that expands from the site of the tick bite. The inner part is dark red, with the circle fading as it goes outward. Flu-like symptoms may be present.

The next stage affects the body as the bacteria spread in the bloodstream. Rashes or lumps may appear at this point. Palpitations, dizziness, and muscle and joint pain may also occur. Some people will develop serious problems like meningitis.

After months without treatment, severe and chronic symptoms can develop and the disease can affect the brain, nervous system, joints, eyes, nerves and heart. The knees are commonly affected, sometimes to the point that a wheelchair becomes necessary. In very extreme cases, untreated Lyme disease can cause severe disability and paraplegia.

Lyme Disease Treatment

Antibiotics are the most common treatment for the disease. The antibiotics used and the duration of the treatment depend on the severity and location of the symptoms.

The disease is much more difficult to treat in later stages, when antibiotics become less effective. Class IV antibiotics are usually prescribed for several weeks. Sometimes, more than one course is necessary because the disease has progressed from the bloodstream into the brain, and more powerful antibiotics can that pass into the brain are necessary for successful treatment.