Symptoms Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium, called "spirochete", "Borrelia Burgdorferi and Borrelia afzelii. Ticks are the primary carrier of this bacteria which is found in the ticks' stomachs. Lyme disease is spread by these ticks when they bite the skin and permits the bacteria to infect the body.
Lyme disease is not contagious from human to human but can be contagious in a household if the tick keeps biting everyone in the home. This disease can cause abnormalities in the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system.
Lyme disease that is left untreated will progress from mild symptoms to a serious form. There are three stages of Lyme disease
Stage 1 - localized disease with skin inflammation
Stage 2 - disseminated disease with heart and nervous system involvement,
Stage 3 - late disease with sensory nerve damage and brain inflammation, leading to arthritis
Stage 1 - symptoms include, a red rash, like an insect bite (this may not happen always), fever, headache, stiff neck, chills muscle aches, fatigue, lack of energy and swollen lymph nodes. Most patients notice a unique enlarging rash referred as erythema migrans a few days after the bite. The skin around the bite develops an expanding ring of redness. In some instances, the person does not notice any symptoms during this stage. Stage 1 symptoms are similar to those of a viral flu.
Stage 2 - If the Lyme disease is not detected and treated during the early stages, the disease may affect the skin, joints, nervous system, and heart within weeks and up to a month of the initial infection.
Symptoms include, excessive tiredness, the spread of skin rashes all over the body as the infection spreads, slow and poor memory, unable to concentrate, Conjunctivitis and damage to the tissue in the eyes, rapid heartbeats, pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs, heart disease, inability to control the muscles of the face, recurring headaches and severe headaches and fainting.
Stage 3 - Even at the second stage if Lyme disease is not properly treated effectively, damage to the joints, nerves, and brain can develop months or years after the initial encounter. Symptoms include swelling and pain in the joints more often seen in the knee area, numbness, tingling in the hands and feet, severe fatigue, partial facial nerve paralysis, memory problems, mood swings or lack of sleep, and problems with speech. These symptoms may last up to 6 months at a time.
Chronic Lyme arthritis, which causes recurring episodes of swelling, redness, and fluid buildup in one or more, joints that last up to 6 months at a time.
Lyme disease is also treated with antibiotics.
Showing posts with label Lyme Disease Treatments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lyme Disease Treatments. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Lyme Disease Treatment
Lyme Disease Treatment
Before a person can learn how to treat Lyme disease, they first need to understand what Lyme disease is. Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder that is caused by the tick Borrelia burgdorferi. This disease usually occurs in the summer months. A papule on the victim's skin becomes red and warm but isn't actually painful. This papule is the classic sign of Lyme disease and is called the erythema chronicum migrans (ECM). If this disease is left untreated then after a few weeks, there will be in cardiac and neurologic abnormalities.
How is this caused? First, Lyme disease happens when the tick injects a spirochete-laded saliva into the bloodstream or deposits its fecal matter on the skin. After the incubating of the toxic substance for 3-32 days, the spirochetes will come out of the skin, and cause the ECM. The spirochetes will travel to other sites on the skin and organs and will trigger the inflammatory response in the person affected with disease.
What are the common signs of Lyme disease? Generally, Lyme disease has three stages. The First stage is the ECM. The second stage is the beginning of the neurologic abnormalities like the fluctuating meningoencephalitis within the peripheral and cranial neuropathy. The third stage is the manifestation of the arthritis characteristics.
How is Lyme disease treated? Lyme disease is typically treated on a 28-day course of the antibiotic, doxycycline. This is the prescribed treatment of choice for adults. However, for children who are affected by Lyme disease, they will go on a prescribed treatment of oral penicillin. When the drugs are given in the early stages of the disease, then it can minimize or prevent complications later in life. If a person is in the late stages of the diseases, then they can get high doses of the I.V. ceftriaxone and be successfully treated.
However, before this treatment is done, there needs to be some special considerations. A doctor will need to check for any drug allergies and administer the antibiotics carefully. Furthermore, it is important to assess the person's neurologic function and level of consciousness frequently while on the treatment.
Therefore, having Lyme disease isn't the end of the world. The majority of people that have gotten Lyme disease are able to be completely recovered from the illness. Lyme disease is curable and thus if a person is active in their treatment, they will have no problems with the disease later in the future.
Before a person can learn how to treat Lyme disease, they first need to understand what Lyme disease is. Lyme disease is a multisystem disorder that is caused by the tick Borrelia burgdorferi. This disease usually occurs in the summer months. A papule on the victim's skin becomes red and warm but isn't actually painful. This papule is the classic sign of Lyme disease and is called the erythema chronicum migrans (ECM). If this disease is left untreated then after a few weeks, there will be in cardiac and neurologic abnormalities.
How is this caused? First, Lyme disease happens when the tick injects a spirochete-laded saliva into the bloodstream or deposits its fecal matter on the skin. After the incubating of the toxic substance for 3-32 days, the spirochetes will come out of the skin, and cause the ECM. The spirochetes will travel to other sites on the skin and organs and will trigger the inflammatory response in the person affected with disease.
What are the common signs of Lyme disease? Generally, Lyme disease has three stages. The First stage is the ECM. The second stage is the beginning of the neurologic abnormalities like the fluctuating meningoencephalitis within the peripheral and cranial neuropathy. The third stage is the manifestation of the arthritis characteristics.
How is Lyme disease treated? Lyme disease is typically treated on a 28-day course of the antibiotic, doxycycline. This is the prescribed treatment of choice for adults. However, for children who are affected by Lyme disease, they will go on a prescribed treatment of oral penicillin. When the drugs are given in the early stages of the disease, then it can minimize or prevent complications later in life. If a person is in the late stages of the diseases, then they can get high doses of the I.V. ceftriaxone and be successfully treated.
However, before this treatment is done, there needs to be some special considerations. A doctor will need to check for any drug allergies and administer the antibiotics carefully. Furthermore, it is important to assess the person's neurologic function and level of consciousness frequently while on the treatment.
Therefore, having Lyme disease isn't the end of the world. The majority of people that have gotten Lyme disease are able to be completely recovered from the illness. Lyme disease is curable and thus if a person is active in their treatment, they will have no problems with the disease later in the future.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis.
Lyme Disease Diagnosis.
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease. This disease is known to be spread by ticks when the patient is bitten on the skin, and consequently the bacterium infects the body of the victim bitten by the tick. This disease is not contagious from one infected person to another, and can only be transmitted through a tick bite.
In Lyme disease, diagnosis can be done by simple observation of the skin for starters. The common indicators include abnormalities in the skin, joints and the nervous system. Doctors can sometimes be able to diagnose this disease by simply identifying the typical rush on a patient. This is made possible in cases where the patient has been to a region in which the disease is commonly reported.
In Lyme disease diagnosis, the doctor usually looks into the patient's history in addition to conducting a physical examination. The history of the patient is specifically with particular regard to the places that the patient has been to in the recent past. This is commonly the case with Lyme disease diagnosis at the early stages.
In later stages, however, an effective Lyme disease diagnosis would require blood testing for antibodies to the Lyme bacteria. The antibodies are produced by the body to fight against the Lyme bacteria, and the antibodies are often the evidence of exposure by the patient to the Lyme bacteria.
However, it is important to note that antibodies could give false indication of a disease, including in Lyme disease diagnosis. This is because antibodies can remain in the body system for years even after the disease as been cured. This is known as a false positive test. A false positive test is dangerous in that it can lead to confusion rather than solutions to an existing problem. As a result, the most reliable test used to confirm presence of the infection in Lyme disease diagnosis is known as the Western Blot assay antibody test. Research is still underway for more tests methods.
In general however, blood testing by doctors and other medical professionals seeking to conduct Lyme disease diagnosis is helpful in patients who exhibit symptoms compatible with Lyme disease, and have a history of exposure to tick bites at least a few weeks before. The testing is also useful for those patients who have unexplained heart disorders, joint problems or nervous system complications, which are typical of Lyme diseases
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease. This disease is known to be spread by ticks when the patient is bitten on the skin, and consequently the bacterium infects the body of the victim bitten by the tick. This disease is not contagious from one infected person to another, and can only be transmitted through a tick bite.
In Lyme disease, diagnosis can be done by simple observation of the skin for starters. The common indicators include abnormalities in the skin, joints and the nervous system. Doctors can sometimes be able to diagnose this disease by simply identifying the typical rush on a patient. This is made possible in cases where the patient has been to a region in which the disease is commonly reported.
In Lyme disease diagnosis, the doctor usually looks into the patient's history in addition to conducting a physical examination. The history of the patient is specifically with particular regard to the places that the patient has been to in the recent past. This is commonly the case with Lyme disease diagnosis at the early stages.
In later stages, however, an effective Lyme disease diagnosis would require blood testing for antibodies to the Lyme bacteria. The antibodies are produced by the body to fight against the Lyme bacteria, and the antibodies are often the evidence of exposure by the patient to the Lyme bacteria.
However, it is important to note that antibodies could give false indication of a disease, including in Lyme disease diagnosis. This is because antibodies can remain in the body system for years even after the disease as been cured. This is known as a false positive test. A false positive test is dangerous in that it can lead to confusion rather than solutions to an existing problem. As a result, the most reliable test used to confirm presence of the infection in Lyme disease diagnosis is known as the Western Blot assay antibody test. Research is still underway for more tests methods.
In general however, blood testing by doctors and other medical professionals seeking to conduct Lyme disease diagnosis is helpful in patients who exhibit symptoms compatible with Lyme disease, and have a history of exposure to tick bites at least a few weeks before. The testing is also useful for those patients who have unexplained heart disorders, joint problems or nervous system complications, which are typical of Lyme diseases
Lyme Disease Cure
Lyme Disease Cure
Generally, taking antibiotics for several weeks is one sure cure for Lyme disease. But treatment with intravenous (IV) may be required for certain forms of Lyme disease. Cure of the Lyme disease by use of antibiotics always lasts for about 14-28 days.
In most cases however, Lyme disease cure usually involves a few weeks of taking oral antibiotics. There are some common antibiotics that are normally used for the Lyme disease cure and they may include:
The antibiotics play a major role as they mostly speed up the healing of a rush and as well can ensure that arthritis symptoms go away following antibiotic therapy, within a few weeks or months. Persistent fatigue, muscular aches and sometimes trouble with memory and concentrations are some of the symptoms experienced by patients even after therapy. The good thing however is that research is on going on and it is hoped that soon the best ways of treating these symptoms will be discovered.
Sometimes people taking antibiotics might experience symptoms such as mild joint pain and a headache. This therefore brings to mention the question about pain relievers being able to help in any way. Usually pain relievers play a role in just reliving some symptoms but they don’t help in combating the Lyme disease. In relieving the symptoms, acetaminophen like Tylenol and sometimes aspirin and ibuprofen are usually used. They can be very effective
Important to note also, is that it is in very rare cases that Lyme disease treatment might have to do with more than only medication and sometimes a temporary pacemaker may be required for heart problems.
In cases that intravenous (IV) treatment is required to cure Lyme disease in some patients, then the medications for such type of treatment may include ceftriaxone and penicillin
Patients usually treated by antibiotics in the early stages for Lyme disease experience rapid recovery and in most cases, completely. However, a few patients particularly those diagnosed for the first time with later stages of the Lyme disease may experience persistent or recurrent symptoms. Usually those patients benefit from a second 4-week course of antibiotic therapy. There is an observation made on serious complications arising from including even death that always are from courses of the antibiotics. This mostly happens when the antibiotics are not beneficial and yet the patient continues with their use.
Generally, taking antibiotics for several weeks is one sure cure for Lyme disease. But treatment with intravenous (IV) may be required for certain forms of Lyme disease. Cure of the Lyme disease by use of antibiotics always lasts for about 14-28 days.
In most cases however, Lyme disease cure usually involves a few weeks of taking oral antibiotics. There are some common antibiotics that are normally used for the Lyme disease cure and they may include:
- Doxycyline
- Amoxicillin
- Cefuroxime axetail
- Penicillin
- Erythromycin which is usually taken by patients allergic to penicillin
The antibiotics play a major role as they mostly speed up the healing of a rush and as well can ensure that arthritis symptoms go away following antibiotic therapy, within a few weeks or months. Persistent fatigue, muscular aches and sometimes trouble with memory and concentrations are some of the symptoms experienced by patients even after therapy. The good thing however is that research is on going on and it is hoped that soon the best ways of treating these symptoms will be discovered.
Sometimes people taking antibiotics might experience symptoms such as mild joint pain and a headache. This therefore brings to mention the question about pain relievers being able to help in any way. Usually pain relievers play a role in just reliving some symptoms but they don’t help in combating the Lyme disease. In relieving the symptoms, acetaminophen like Tylenol and sometimes aspirin and ibuprofen are usually used. They can be very effective
Important to note also, is that it is in very rare cases that Lyme disease treatment might have to do with more than only medication and sometimes a temporary pacemaker may be required for heart problems.
In cases that intravenous (IV) treatment is required to cure Lyme disease in some patients, then the medications for such type of treatment may include ceftriaxone and penicillin
Patients usually treated by antibiotics in the early stages for Lyme disease experience rapid recovery and in most cases, completely. However, a few patients particularly those diagnosed for the first time with later stages of the Lyme disease may experience persistent or recurrent symptoms. Usually those patients benefit from a second 4-week course of antibiotic therapy. There is an observation made on serious complications arising from including even death that always are from courses of the antibiotics. This mostly happens when the antibiotics are not beneficial and yet the patient continues with their use.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Early Lyme Disease
Early Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a disease that affects multiple body systems. It is caused most by the Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by the minute tick called the Ixodes ammini. Other ticks in the Ixodidae family can cause lyme disease too, but those cases are extremely rare. This disease generally occurs in summertime and usually starts with a red and warm papule that isn't painful to the infected individual. The red and warm papule is the classic sign of Lyme disease, and it is known as ECM. However, if Lyme disease isn't treated, then months later that infected person will display heart or nerve abnormalities. If that isn't treated, then there may be possible arthritis in the large joints later in the progress of Lyme disease.
Now, the early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are simple and easy to recognize. Therefore, if a person is paying attention to their body than they can get cured from this multiply system disorder as soon as possible. Typically, Lyme disease has three different stages. The first and earliest stage of Lyme disease is the erythema chronicum migrans. The ECM heralds the first stage of Lyme disease and it usually occurs at the site of the minute tick. The erythema chronicum migrans lesion generally feels very hot and itchy and may even grow up to over 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter. Sometimes it may even resemble a bull's eyes or target. After a few days of getting the first erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) lesion, multiple lesions will erupt everywhere around the infective person's skin and a migratory, ring-like rash, conjunctivitis, and diffuse urticaria occurs.
In the three weeks after those lesions erupt on the skin, the lesions will be replaced by small red blotches that will persistently stay on the skin for several more weeks. During this stage, the infected person will experience fatigue and malaise on a constant basis. Other intermitted signs and symptoms that the infected person may experience are headache, neck stiffness, fever, chills, achiness, and regional lymphadenopathy. The other signs and systems that are less common are meningeal irritation, roaming musculoskeletal pain mild encephalopathy, hepatitis, and splenomegaly. However, some infected persons have reported that they had an unrelenting sore throat and dried out cough many days before the erythema chronicum migrans had appeared.
In conclusion, it is not hard to diagnosis and detected Lyme disease. However, if it is not diagnosis properly it can negatively affect a person's well-being. Therefore, if a person has any of these early signs of Lyme disease then they need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Lyme disease is a disease that affects multiple body systems. It is caused most by the Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by the minute tick called the Ixodes ammini. Other ticks in the Ixodidae family can cause lyme disease too, but those cases are extremely rare. This disease generally occurs in summertime and usually starts with a red and warm papule that isn't painful to the infected individual. The red and warm papule is the classic sign of Lyme disease, and it is known as ECM. However, if Lyme disease isn't treated, then months later that infected person will display heart or nerve abnormalities. If that isn't treated, then there may be possible arthritis in the large joints later in the progress of Lyme disease.
Now, the early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease are simple and easy to recognize. Therefore, if a person is paying attention to their body than they can get cured from this multiply system disorder as soon as possible. Typically, Lyme disease has three different stages. The first and earliest stage of Lyme disease is the erythema chronicum migrans. The ECM heralds the first stage of Lyme disease and it usually occurs at the site of the minute tick. The erythema chronicum migrans lesion generally feels very hot and itchy and may even grow up to over 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter. Sometimes it may even resemble a bull's eyes or target. After a few days of getting the first erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) lesion, multiple lesions will erupt everywhere around the infective person's skin and a migratory, ring-like rash, conjunctivitis, and diffuse urticaria occurs.
In the three weeks after those lesions erupt on the skin, the lesions will be replaced by small red blotches that will persistently stay on the skin for several more weeks. During this stage, the infected person will experience fatigue and malaise on a constant basis. Other intermitted signs and symptoms that the infected person may experience are headache, neck stiffness, fever, chills, achiness, and regional lymphadenopathy. The other signs and systems that are less common are meningeal irritation, roaming musculoskeletal pain mild encephalopathy, hepatitis, and splenomegaly. However, some infected persons have reported that they had an unrelenting sore throat and dried out cough many days before the erythema chronicum migrans had appeared.
In conclusion, it is not hard to diagnosis and detected Lyme disease. However, if it is not diagnosis properly it can negatively affect a person's well-being. Therefore, if a person has any of these early signs of Lyme disease then they need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
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