| By :
Patricia Strasser
Although it is not an epidemic, Lyme disease is worth researching about in order to learn its nature, treatments, and prevention. Lyme disease's nature and infection Lyme disease got its name after its discovery in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975. The bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi is the identified cause of this inflammatory disease. People who are bitten by infected ticks, especially deer ticks, often become infected with Lyme disease and this is quite common in late spring and in the start of summer. Symptoms associated with Lyme Disease A few days up to a few weeks after being bitten by an infected tick, a circular skin rash, erythema migrans or otherwise known as the “bull's eye†rash, appears at the site of the tick bite. In a couple of days' time, the rash can become bigger. Apart from having a rash, Lyme symptoms can include fever, chills, body and joint pains and other flu-like symptoms. There are some instances where you can experience the flu-like symptoms but not have any rash. In a month's time, Lyme disease can worsen considerably if left undiagnosed and untreated. You will experience more and worse headaches, pain and numbness in the arms and legs, and even fainting and palpitations. Memory problems may start to appear as poor memory retention and concentration. Effective medical treatment must be given to a person as soon as possible as the symptoms will only get worse without the necessary treatments. Essential ways to diagnose Lyme disease As soon as symptoms of Lyme disease start to show up, consult your doctor for proper diagnosis. Your physician usually identifies Lyme disease through your symptoms, especially with the presence of the rash and your personal history of a tick bite. Laboratory tests are also conducted, such as the ELISA blood test and western blot to diagnose Lyme disease. How to treat Lyme infection There are many oral antibiotics that can effectively treat Lyme disease when detected earlier. Some of these include tetracycline, penicillin, doxycycline and others. Other oral antibiotics may be also administered together with erythromycin and azithromycin. Generally, patients who experience neurological or cardiac complications at the start or during the late phase of Lyme disease will have to get intravenous antibiotics. Complications resulting from Lyme disease Lyme disease, when left undetected and unattended or if medication fails to work, can lead to long-term complications and health problems. Even the neuromuscular and circulatory systems could be severely affected by Lyme disease. This in turn will cause the patient to experience severe fatigue, chronic arthritis, paralysis of the facial nerves (Bell's palsy), inflammation and enlargement of the heart and meningitis. How to prevent Lyme disease Prevention is always the best option when handling infection rather than curing it after being acquired. To avoid getting infected with Lyme disease, make sure you cover yourself when going to grassy and woody areas where ticks are most commonly found. Wear a cap, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, and shoes that cover your feet well. When hiking or camping, regularly check your body for ticks, and bathe after outdoor activities to make sure ticks do not stay on your body. Lyme disease is not that common, so you need not cancel your outdoor activities. You mustn't let your fear of Lyme disease keep you from taking part in your favorite outdoor recreations and interests. What is important is that you know all about Lyme disease, especially its prevention strategies and symptoms in order to avoid long-term health complications.
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