All You Need To Know About Lyme Disease

Approximately 476,000 individuals are diagnosed and treated annually for Lyme Disease. The disease continues to affect more people. The following article explains what you need to know about Lyme Disease.

Definition Of Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is a sickness spread by the bacterium Borrelia Burgdorferi. The ailment is passed on by an infected deer tick.

Who Is More Prone To Lyme Disease?

People who live or spend time in woodland areas where the disease is spread are more prone to contract this ailment. Additionally, people who visit woodland regions with domesticated animals are also at an increased risk of contracting Lyme disease.

How Are You Diagnosed With Lyme Disease?

The diagnosis of Lyme Disease starts with a doctor taking the history of the symptoms you are presenting, such as body rash. However, not all patients present rashes or even remember being bitten. Testing in the initial stages is not recommended. To ascertain the diagnosis, you can have a blood test done 3 to 4 weeks after a suspected tick bite.

Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Adults

People who contract Lyme Disease react differently, and the severity of the symptoms will also differ among individuals. Lyme disease is divided into three stages:

Early Localized Lyme Disease

Symptoms occur in this stage within a month after being bitten. The Erythema migrans appear in the sport where the deer tick bit you. Other symptoms may follow, but this depends on the individual.

Early Disseminated Lyme Disease

During this stage, rashes will appear in other parts of the body, and you will experience systemic infection since the ailment has spread throughout your body. The signs of stages 1 and 2 can be interchanged.

Late Disseminated Lyme Disease

Some people will also progress to this last stage without showing any symptoms.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

• A flat round rash on your body.
• Headache
• muscular pains
• Lymph nodes swelling
• fever
• sleep disruptions
• concentration problems
• Pain in your joints, tendons, and bones
• Irregular heart rate
• Dizziness
• Having difficulty with breathing
• Inflammation in the spinal cord and brain
• Shooting pain in the hands, feet, and nerves
• Facial Palsy
• Arthritis

Symptoms Of Lyme Disease In Children

Children present the same signs even though they may occur immediately, months, or years later.

According to research, children with Lyme disease present some psychological issues such as:

• depression
• nightmares
• mood changes
• Aggressive behavior

Treatment For Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is effectively treated in the initial stages. Medication during the early stage is a simple 10- to 14-day dose of oral antibiotics to complete the infection. The prescriptions used to cure Lyme disease include:

Amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and doxycycline will be the first-line treatment for both adults and children. Amoxicillin and cefuroxime are used to treat breastfeeding mothers. Intravenous (IV) antibiotics are given if Lyme disease has affected your central nervous system.

Is Lyme Disease Communicable?

Lyme disease is not contagious, according to research done by the CDC. However, pregnant mothers can pass it to their unborn babies, and this may result in stillbirth and congenital abnormalities. Lyme disease may result in death or many years of treatment. The good news is you can prevent the disease by being more careful, especially during summer when people have to spend more time outdoors.