Neurological Lyme Disease
Usually, the victim of neurological Lyme disease develops a rash on the spot where the tick bites. The rash is sometimes very painful and too sensitive to touch. The rash may vary in size, shape and color, but the common characteristic is that it often is a red ring with a clear centre, like a bull's eye.
In other instances, the rash may not develop. Here, it becomes difficult to diagnose, because its signs and symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions. About a week after the tick bite, the first stage of Lyme disease exhibits flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle and joint pains.
Neurological Lyme disease is often common with the second stage of the disease. In this stage, the patient experiences numbness, weakness, pain, paralysis of the facial muscles, visual problems. Other symptoms are fever, stiff neck and severe headache. Other problems which may follow include loss of concentration, memory and sleep disorders, irritability and nerve damage in the arms and legs.
This disease, including the neurological phase, is treated with antibiotics with the supervision of a doctor. Most patients respond well to antibiotics and gain full recovery. However, in some patients, symptoms may persist making it necessary for additional antibiotic treatment. Damage of joints or nervous system damage may develop in serious cases of neurological Lyme disease.
Joint or nervous system damage may be varied in extent, and in some cases, individuals may even die from neurological Lyme disease and its complications.
The diagnosis of the disease, including the neurological stage can be done by use of an Elisa antibody test. Positive results would indicate the presence of Lyme disease. There are occasions where people without Lyme disease, whether in the early stages or the neurological Lyme disease stage, may show positive results to the Elisa test. This is a false positive, which is due to other conditions such as syphilis, HIV and so on.
The Elisa test is normally unreliable during first weeks of infection. However, if treated early with antibiotics, the patient can recover. The more reliable test is the Western Blot Test, which is more specific, and is only resorted to when a patient records positive results for the Elisa test. It is used as a confirmatory test, and if it turns positive, it confirms presence of the disease, including neurological Lyme disease.
Showing posts with label lyme tick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lyme tick. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Lyme Disease Vaccine
Lyme Disease Vaccine
Many people, most of them members of advocacy groups, believe that poor sales is not the reason GlaxoSmithKline withdrew a Lyme vaccine from the market. Researchers are convinced that there are much more complicated reasons why LYMErix was pulled out of the world market.
Research for another vaccine is ongoing. Currently, no Lyme disease vaccine is available in the market. It is important for a good prevention mechanism to be adopted especially bearing in mind that many reservations were expressed on the previous vaccines. Many advocacy groups are warning against hype that might be mistaken by many people as implying that a new vaccine has been invented.
As the search for a new Lyme disease vaccine continues, new tests are being introduced into the medical field to make it easier for doctors to make diagnoses of the dreaded disease. Durland Fish, a Yale entomologist insists that the decision by GlaxoSmithKline to withdraw the vaccine did not make life any easier for doctors; that medical practitioners were left with very few tools with which to fight this disease; that today, patients are more worried than ever before.
The vaccine has triggered lawsuits, with some patients saying that it causes arthritis and has very many other side effects. Lyme disease causes symptoms similar to those of flu. It also causes aches and fatigue. It is transmitted through a bite from an infected tick. Antibiotics treat the condition very successfully. If it is not treated early, the disease can metamorphose into arthritis. Sometimes the condition can over time lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems.
Every year, 15,000 new Lyme disease cases are reported. At the Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, collaboration between scientists has resulted into the development of a vaccine that can protect people from the disease without triggering any side effects. This genetically engineered vaccine has been able to produce excellent results in animals. Before it can be released into the market, human testing must be done first.
The scientists behind the research that produced the vaccine are optimistic that it will do well in Europe, Asia and even the US. The concerns similar to those that had been raised earlier will not occur. Effective vaccine, Fish adds, might prove very elusive in the near future since people might remain reluctant on seeking protection against a disease that can be completely treated. People might reason that the risk of using a vaccines not working is not worth taking.
Many people, most of them members of advocacy groups, believe that poor sales is not the reason GlaxoSmithKline withdrew a Lyme vaccine from the market. Researchers are convinced that there are much more complicated reasons why LYMErix was pulled out of the world market.
Research for another vaccine is ongoing. Currently, no Lyme disease vaccine is available in the market. It is important for a good prevention mechanism to be adopted especially bearing in mind that many reservations were expressed on the previous vaccines. Many advocacy groups are warning against hype that might be mistaken by many people as implying that a new vaccine has been invented.
As the search for a new Lyme disease vaccine continues, new tests are being introduced into the medical field to make it easier for doctors to make diagnoses of the dreaded disease. Durland Fish, a Yale entomologist insists that the decision by GlaxoSmithKline to withdraw the vaccine did not make life any easier for doctors; that medical practitioners were left with very few tools with which to fight this disease; that today, patients are more worried than ever before.
The vaccine has triggered lawsuits, with some patients saying that it causes arthritis and has very many other side effects. Lyme disease causes symptoms similar to those of flu. It also causes aches and fatigue. It is transmitted through a bite from an infected tick. Antibiotics treat the condition very successfully. If it is not treated early, the disease can metamorphose into arthritis. Sometimes the condition can over time lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems.
Every year, 15,000 new Lyme disease cases are reported. At the Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, collaboration between scientists has resulted into the development of a vaccine that can protect people from the disease without triggering any side effects. This genetically engineered vaccine has been able to produce excellent results in animals. Before it can be released into the market, human testing must be done first.
The scientists behind the research that produced the vaccine are optimistic that it will do well in Europe, Asia and even the US. The concerns similar to those that had been raised earlier will not occur. Effective vaccine, Fish adds, might prove very elusive in the near future since people might remain reluctant on seeking protection against a disease that can be completely treated. People might reason that the risk of using a vaccines not working is not worth taking.
Lyme Disease Rash
Lyme Disease Rash
The first symptom of Lyme disease is the rash that spreads out from the site of the tick bite. If the bite is ignored and is not treated the bacteria spreads to other areas of the body.
Since the Lyme disease rash is the first stage of the disease, is can develop between 2 to 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick. The Lyme disease rash is also known as erythema migrans or bulls-eye rash. The rash starts off as a single circular red mark and it spreads outwards slowly over a period of days. The circle then expands and spreads outwards, and the skin turns pale in the inner part of the circle. This is why the rash is called 'bulls eye' rash. It is said that the rash cold expand up to 30cm.
Studies have shown that at least about 85 to 90 percent of people that develop Lyme disease get the skin rash. The rash is always easily identified.
The Lyme disease rash is not painful, scratch or itchy. The person who is bitten by the tick may not even notice it if the bite is not in a visible area of the body like the spine or the head. However, most patients are fooled when the rash disappears they think the infection has cleared from the body. If the Lyme disease infection is not treated the rash can spread to other areas of the body.
The Lyme disease rash can become very uncomfortable at times and may not produce other symptoms other than the redness. Some patients experience the redness and also suffer from burning sensation pain, and skin itch.
In addition to the skin rash other symptoms are also displayed by the person infected by Lyme disease, such as an overall bad feeling, headaches, fatigue and weakness, stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, chills, muscle and joint pain, and fever.
The Lyme disease rash is often misdiagnosis. One such misdiagnosis is where the rash is usually the size of a quarter or silver dollar. Generally the rash may vary in size, color and overall appearance. There may be more than one red rash on the body, there could be several in all areas of the body. The rash could be oozy and crusty as well.
Therefore, precaution is better than cure, people who work with animals and live in wooded or bushy surrounding with long grass are likely to develop the Lyme disease rash, due to exposure to the bite of a tick or mite with the disease causing bacterium.
The first symptom of Lyme disease is the rash that spreads out from the site of the tick bite. If the bite is ignored and is not treated the bacteria spreads to other areas of the body.
Since the Lyme disease rash is the first stage of the disease, is can develop between 2 to 30 days after being bitten by an infected tick. The Lyme disease rash is also known as erythema migrans or bulls-eye rash. The rash starts off as a single circular red mark and it spreads outwards slowly over a period of days. The circle then expands and spreads outwards, and the skin turns pale in the inner part of the circle. This is why the rash is called 'bulls eye' rash. It is said that the rash cold expand up to 30cm.
Studies have shown that at least about 85 to 90 percent of people that develop Lyme disease get the skin rash. The rash is always easily identified.
The Lyme disease rash is not painful, scratch or itchy. The person who is bitten by the tick may not even notice it if the bite is not in a visible area of the body like the spine or the head. However, most patients are fooled when the rash disappears they think the infection has cleared from the body. If the Lyme disease infection is not treated the rash can spread to other areas of the body.
The Lyme disease rash can become very uncomfortable at times and may not produce other symptoms other than the redness. Some patients experience the redness and also suffer from burning sensation pain, and skin itch.
In addition to the skin rash other symptoms are also displayed by the person infected by Lyme disease, such as an overall bad feeling, headaches, fatigue and weakness, stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, chills, muscle and joint pain, and fever.
The Lyme disease rash is often misdiagnosis. One such misdiagnosis is where the rash is usually the size of a quarter or silver dollar. Generally the rash may vary in size, color and overall appearance. There may be more than one red rash on the body, there could be several in all areas of the body. The rash could be oozy and crusty as well.
Therefore, precaution is better than cure, people who work with animals and live in wooded or bushy surrounding with long grass are likely to develop the Lyme disease rash, due to exposure to the bite of a tick or mite with the disease causing bacterium.
Lyme Disease Diet
Lyme Disease Diet
It is necessary to manage, and even completely cure Lyme disease by strict observation of a Lyme disease diet. Natural alternatives like dieting, herbs, vitamins, minerals and simple changes in lifestyle have been proved to be effective in management and even cure of this disease.
Due to the fact that Lyme disease can have complications in terms of timely detection and treatment, it is useful to treat the disease as soon as possible. This annoying and frustrating disease can luckily be effectively managed by simply living a healthy lifestyle, and using basic remedies.
For healing Lyme disease, diet is of paramount importance. By extension, immunity plays a key function in treatment of the disease. A growing number of health professionals believe that an immune system that is at one hundred percent capacity is able to destroy Lyme disease. Most people have a probable immunity percentage of seventy five though.
A healthy diet, and fruits in specific, offers the body nutrients, vitamins and minerals which contribute to better health in general. Many people tend to believe that Lyme is escalated by a bad overall health for most victims.
Below are some useful tips in achieving a Lyme disease diet for the management and probable cure of the condition. To begin with, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Both fruits and vegetables contain vitamins which boost immunity.
Secondly, and very important in Lyme disease diet, is water. Drink more water. This product has thousands of benefits, including the ability to flush toxins, infections, pollutants and all other junk collected by the body. From ten to twelve glasses of water a day is recommended.
On the other hand, it has been proven that one of the important components of Lyme disease diet is supplementing vitamin A. It is very helpful in the relief of Lyme symptoms naturally. On the same note, multivitamins are also recommended, preferably twice a day.
Besides, unrefined salt is also good as a Lyme disease diet. A simple diet containing salt can eliminate Lyme symptoms and contribute to a cure. When it comes to diet, and specifically Lyme disease diet, it is important to avoid eating toxins and foods that are harmful to the body. These mostly junk foods, which sadly are quite popular with men and women of this generation. Instead of eating foods that kill, it is necessary to revert to foods that heal.
It is necessary to manage, and even completely cure Lyme disease by strict observation of a Lyme disease diet. Natural alternatives like dieting, herbs, vitamins, minerals and simple changes in lifestyle have been proved to be effective in management and even cure of this disease.
Due to the fact that Lyme disease can have complications in terms of timely detection and treatment, it is useful to treat the disease as soon as possible. This annoying and frustrating disease can luckily be effectively managed by simply living a healthy lifestyle, and using basic remedies.
For healing Lyme disease, diet is of paramount importance. By extension, immunity plays a key function in treatment of the disease. A growing number of health professionals believe that an immune system that is at one hundred percent capacity is able to destroy Lyme disease. Most people have a probable immunity percentage of seventy five though.
A healthy diet, and fruits in specific, offers the body nutrients, vitamins and minerals which contribute to better health in general. Many people tend to believe that Lyme is escalated by a bad overall health for most victims.
Below are some useful tips in achieving a Lyme disease diet for the management and probable cure of the condition. To begin with, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Both fruits and vegetables contain vitamins which boost immunity.
Secondly, and very important in Lyme disease diet, is water. Drink more water. This product has thousands of benefits, including the ability to flush toxins, infections, pollutants and all other junk collected by the body. From ten to twelve glasses of water a day is recommended.
On the other hand, it has been proven that one of the important components of Lyme disease diet is supplementing vitamin A. It is very helpful in the relief of Lyme symptoms naturally. On the same note, multivitamins are also recommended, preferably twice a day.
Besides, unrefined salt is also good as a Lyme disease diet. A simple diet containing salt can eliminate Lyme symptoms and contribute to a cure. When it comes to diet, and specifically Lyme disease diet, it is important to avoid eating toxins and foods that are harmful to the body. These mostly junk foods, which sadly are quite popular with men and women of this generation. Instead of eating foods that kill, it is necessary to revert to foods that heal.
Lyme Disease Deer
Lyme Disease Deer
There are various conflicting observations about the deer being the father and mother of the Lyme disease. But it is always good to look at both ends and determine if the deer is solemnly responsible for Lyme disease. Research on Lyme disease and the deer has basically brought on the table very debatable observations.
It has been observed that the leading causes of the Lyme diseases are mainly the small mammals like the mice which usually help in the first year of the two-year life cycle. But the adult tick is usually given blood meal and transportation by the deer. Studies have indicated that you can reduce the number of ticks dramatically if you reduce the number of deer per density to maybe 10 per square mile. This therefore also means that there will be a dramatic reduction of the Lyme disease. There are some studies which have gone further in demystifying this fact by essentially removing all deer in a selected area and the results were that the Lyme disease dropped almost to non-existent.
A fenced area that can bar deer from coming in can prove this observation. If you walk round inside the fence; you will find that you will not pick up ticks contrary to if you were to join the deer population outside the fence where you may find that you will pick up ticks. The unfortunate part of this observation is that nature has a part to play. In fact, it has a way of being complex than it is ever thought about. It is believe that the deer is the parent host of the black-legged tick. But when there is scarcity of deer, nature takes its course and the ticks feed on raccoons, skunks, opossums or even other medium sized mammals. These always provide alternative hosts to these ticks.
But then, a fact that is true is that ticks are very dangerous when infected and the deer does not play any role in infecting the ticks. It is the Lyme disease bacterium that infects ticks which feed on the small mammals such as the white footed mice, chipmunks and shrews, with mice playing an additional role of increasing the survival of the ticks. In essence, as much as the reduction of deer can reduce accidents and maybe increase forest regeneration, the best way is to increase forest patches that will necessitate the growth of natural predators such as the weasels, coyotes, foxes and owls which can do the job of feeding on these ticks.
There are various conflicting observations about the deer being the father and mother of the Lyme disease. But it is always good to look at both ends and determine if the deer is solemnly responsible for Lyme disease. Research on Lyme disease and the deer has basically brought on the table very debatable observations.
It has been observed that the leading causes of the Lyme diseases are mainly the small mammals like the mice which usually help in the first year of the two-year life cycle. But the adult tick is usually given blood meal and transportation by the deer. Studies have indicated that you can reduce the number of ticks dramatically if you reduce the number of deer per density to maybe 10 per square mile. This therefore also means that there will be a dramatic reduction of the Lyme disease. There are some studies which have gone further in demystifying this fact by essentially removing all deer in a selected area and the results were that the Lyme disease dropped almost to non-existent.
A fenced area that can bar deer from coming in can prove this observation. If you walk round inside the fence; you will find that you will not pick up ticks contrary to if you were to join the deer population outside the fence where you may find that you will pick up ticks. The unfortunate part of this observation is that nature has a part to play. In fact, it has a way of being complex than it is ever thought about. It is believe that the deer is the parent host of the black-legged tick. But when there is scarcity of deer, nature takes its course and the ticks feed on raccoons, skunks, opossums or even other medium sized mammals. These always provide alternative hosts to these ticks.
But then, a fact that is true is that ticks are very dangerous when infected and the deer does not play any role in infecting the ticks. It is the Lyme disease bacterium that infects ticks which feed on the small mammals such as the white footed mice, chipmunks and shrews, with mice playing an additional role of increasing the survival of the ticks. In essence, as much as the reduction of deer can reduce accidents and maybe increase forest regeneration, the best way is to increase forest patches that will necessitate the growth of natural predators such as the weasels, coyotes, foxes and owls which can do the job of feeding on these ticks.
Lyme Disease Chronic
Lyme Disease Chronic
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Most cases are successfully treated with oral antibiotics. It is those who suffer with persistent and devastating effects despite the antibiotic treatment are called Chronic Lyme disease. The symptoms are similar to that of Lyme disease the only difference is that the patient is not cured.
Chronic Lyme disease is surrounded by controversy which leads to problems with mostly family and those who depend on health care benefits or insurance.
There is no known cure for chronic Lyme disease. Treatment and the response to treatment vary from each individual. Some patients may need a combination of medications, others may need to be on the treatment for a long period of time, some need natural therapies and find they need to stay on antibiotics for a long period of time and some patients need to be treated based on the symptoms they display.
There are those who are lucky with the treatment and experience full recovery, while the rest of the patients are left to try and experiment with medication until they are cured or partly cured.
It is found that those with chronic Lyme disease have or suffer from other tick-borne illnesses and these illnesses are said to contribute to the complexity with treatment.
It is very unfortunate that physicians are not in a position to recognize chronic Lyme disease at the onset or as a medical condition. Treatment is most often not administered and the patient is ignored which increases the patients suffering and discourages the person mentally.
There is plenty of support groups and networks both online and within the community who are very helpful for those patients suffering with chronic Lyme disease. The local hospital will give a patient detail of such groups and networks. These groups are very helpful emotionally and as well as help the patient to learn about the treatment options and simply share a word or complain and connect with others facing the same worries.
In conclusion, Chronic Lyme Disease is a medical condition, caused by the Lyme disease bacteria in the body. It is critical that physicians and patients identify the symptoms and prevent additional suffering and discomfort.
Specialized research facilities have been opened to determine the cause and treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease. The establishment of such facilities is a stepping stone and an ever continuing promise to those suffering from chronic Lyme disease that there is hope.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Most cases are successfully treated with oral antibiotics. It is those who suffer with persistent and devastating effects despite the antibiotic treatment are called Chronic Lyme disease. The symptoms are similar to that of Lyme disease the only difference is that the patient is not cured.
Chronic Lyme disease is surrounded by controversy which leads to problems with mostly family and those who depend on health care benefits or insurance.
There is no known cure for chronic Lyme disease. Treatment and the response to treatment vary from each individual. Some patients may need a combination of medications, others may need to be on the treatment for a long period of time, some need natural therapies and find they need to stay on antibiotics for a long period of time and some patients need to be treated based on the symptoms they display.
There are those who are lucky with the treatment and experience full recovery, while the rest of the patients are left to try and experiment with medication until they are cured or partly cured.
It is found that those with chronic Lyme disease have or suffer from other tick-borne illnesses and these illnesses are said to contribute to the complexity with treatment.
It is very unfortunate that physicians are not in a position to recognize chronic Lyme disease at the onset or as a medical condition. Treatment is most often not administered and the patient is ignored which increases the patients suffering and discourages the person mentally.
There is plenty of support groups and networks both online and within the community who are very helpful for those patients suffering with chronic Lyme disease. The local hospital will give a patient detail of such groups and networks. These groups are very helpful emotionally and as well as help the patient to learn about the treatment options and simply share a word or complain and connect with others facing the same worries.
In conclusion, Chronic Lyme Disease is a medical condition, caused by the Lyme disease bacteria in the body. It is critical that physicians and patients identify the symptoms and prevent additional suffering and discomfort.
Specialized research facilities have been opened to determine the cause and treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease. The establishment of such facilities is a stepping stone and an ever continuing promise to those suffering from chronic Lyme disease that there is hope.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Deer Tick Lyme Disease
Deer Tick Lyme Disease
Deer ticks are the most common carriers of the bacteria which causes Lyme disease. For this reason, the disease is commonly referred to as deer tick Lyme disease, especially in areas where the deer tick is prevalent.
Given that prevention is always the best cure, deer tick Lyme disease is better of prevented than treated, since treatment may be very difficult, and could take a very long time at times.
First of all, where deer ticks are common, one way of prevention is by the use garlic. Garlic in powder form can be used to clean pets, including dogs. This significantly helps in reducing tick bites in the animals. Taking fresh garlic also helps in reducing infection for humans, as it has been reported in some quarters.
Secondly, it has been proven that pet owners are at the highest risk of contracting deer tick Lyme disease. It is therefore important for pet owners to be vigil and keep a regular check on the pets, removing any ticks that may have bitten the dog or cat or any other pet for that matter, as soon as it is detected.
On the other hand, it is helpful to use the dryer in laundry, since ticks cannot survive the high heat produced by a drier. Ticks can survive ordinary washing, and the only sure way to ensure their elimination is by using high heat, which kills them. This option, however, is not very affordable, but given the consequences of the deer tick Lyme disease infection, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.
The other viable alternative would be the use of repellants to keep off ticks. These could be off the counter repellants or even naturally occurring repellants such as eucalyptus. These can be used as effective repellants against ticks. This remedy is good even for deterring mosquitoes. For ticks, the use and application of repellants should be much more often and at more frequent intervals.
Keeping hens has been found to be a winning formula for keeping deer tick Lyme disease at bay. For the hens, the ticks are a very good source of food. While being a food source for the hens, the ticks will be easily eliminated by the hens, thus reducing the risk of infection by Lyme disease. Hens will ensure that there is a significant reduction in the number of ticks.
Deer ticks are the most common carriers of the bacteria which causes Lyme disease. For this reason, the disease is commonly referred to as deer tick Lyme disease, especially in areas where the deer tick is prevalent.
Given that prevention is always the best cure, deer tick Lyme disease is better of prevented than treated, since treatment may be very difficult, and could take a very long time at times.
First of all, where deer ticks are common, one way of prevention is by the use garlic. Garlic in powder form can be used to clean pets, including dogs. This significantly helps in reducing tick bites in the animals. Taking fresh garlic also helps in reducing infection for humans, as it has been reported in some quarters.
Secondly, it has been proven that pet owners are at the highest risk of contracting deer tick Lyme disease. It is therefore important for pet owners to be vigil and keep a regular check on the pets, removing any ticks that may have bitten the dog or cat or any other pet for that matter, as soon as it is detected.
On the other hand, it is helpful to use the dryer in laundry, since ticks cannot survive the high heat produced by a drier. Ticks can survive ordinary washing, and the only sure way to ensure their elimination is by using high heat, which kills them. This option, however, is not very affordable, but given the consequences of the deer tick Lyme disease infection, it is better to be safe than to be sorry.
The other viable alternative would be the use of repellants to keep off ticks. These could be off the counter repellants or even naturally occurring repellants such as eucalyptus. These can be used as effective repellants against ticks. This remedy is good even for deterring mosquitoes. For ticks, the use and application of repellants should be much more often and at more frequent intervals.
Keeping hens has been found to be a winning formula for keeping deer tick Lyme disease at bay. For the hens, the ticks are a very good source of food. While being a food source for the hens, the ticks will be easily eliminated by the hens, thus reducing the risk of infection by Lyme disease. Hens will ensure that there is a significant reduction in the number of ticks.
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