Wednesday, April 8, 2015

What To Know About Living With Lyme Disease

By Iva Cannon


There are many diseases and health problems that can arise in people who have been bit by insects or other animals. Lyme disease is brought about by bacterium called Borrelia burgdofrderi. This is transmitted when humans are bit by infected black-legged ticks. Luckily, living with Lyme disease is possible.

The common symptoms associated with this disease include headache, fever and fatigue. There is also a characteristic rash that develops on the skin of the infected and is referred to as erythema migrans. When this problem is left untreated, the infection is expected to spread to the heart, nervous system and joints in the body, which can be problematic.

Lyme disease must be properly diagnosed before any kind of treatment is applied. Usually this process involves assessing patient symptoms, which might involve looking over physical findings. Patients and doctors should always consider the possibility of exposure. After all, there are some people who might have a higher likelihood of contracting this because of their proximity to infected ticks. Lab testing is fundamental for getting accurate, detailed results on the status of a patient.

In general, most cases are treatable within a few weeks. Often antibiotics are used for this purpose. Each case is different in many aspects, including severity. Patients should feel comfortable voicing concerns, asking questions and otherwise consulting with their doctors about care and treatment solutions. Results of this treatment will range based on many possible factors.

Antibiotics are known to be more e effective for people in the early stages. These individuals are expected to make a complete recover in a short period of time. Those who have cardiac or neurological forms of this illness may need intravenous treatment using drugs like penicillin or ceftriaxone. Although rare, patients who were diagnosed later, may have recurring or persistent symptoms following treatment. This is referred to as Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome or PTLDS. These patients can get help managing these post-care symptoms with help from their doctor.

At one time, there was a vaccine available to prevent this disease. The manufacturer of this vaccine discontinued it in 2002. The best way to avoid contracting this is by reducing exposure to ticks. The warm months of April through September are when ticks are most active, but preventative measures should be taken all year long. People are encouraged to utilize repellents, avoid bushy or woody areas, walk in the center of trails, and always check for ticks. It is important to find and remove ticks promptly.

PTLDS and severe symptoms are less likely in those who had an early diagnosis. People with tick bites, who frequent or live in areas known for infected ticks, are encouraged to keep close eye on signs and symptoms. The first 30 days following the bite are considered the early localized stage. This is when most people will notice a red EM rash forming. This might be present alongside aches in muscles and joints, chills, fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Every case is different. A tick bite may go away after 1 to 2 days, which may not be a sign of Lyme infection. Still, note that ticks are able to spread to different organisms and can cause different kinds of rash. People are encouraged to do research on this diseases and utilize all resources in order to manage it.




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