Description

Lyme disease is a disease caused by the bacterium borrelia. Humans usually get Lyme disease from the bite of a tick carrying the bacterium.

The ticks, which can carry the bacterium borrelia live throughout most of the united States. But Lyme disease is most common in the upper midwest and the northeast and mid-Atlantic states. It is also common in Europe and in the south central and southeastern Canada.

You are at risk of Lyme disease if you're going to spend time in the living, such as grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Taking safety measures in these areas can reduce the risk of Lyme disease.

Symptoms

A tick bite may seem like a small itchy bump on the skin, like the bite of a mosquito. This does not mean that you have a disease transmitted by ticks. Many people do not realize that I had a tick bite.

The symptoms of Lyme disease can vary. They usually appear in stages. But the stages can overlap. And some people have no symptoms of the typical early stage.

Stage 1

The first symptoms of Lyme disease usually occur within the first 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. This phase of the disease has a limited set of symptoms. This is, at the beginning of the localized disease.

A rash is a common sign of Lyme disease. But it doesn't always happen. The rash is usually a single circle that slowly spreads from the site of the tick bite. It is clear in the centre and is seen as a goal or a bull's eye. The rash often feels warm to the touch, But is usually not painful or itchy.

Another stage 1 symptoms include:

  • Fever.
  • The pain of a headache.
  • Extreme tiredness.
  • Stiffness of the joints.
  • Muscle aches and pains.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.

Stage 2

Without treatment, Lyme disease can worsen. The symptoms usually appear within 3 to 10 weeks after a tick bite. The stage 2 is often more severe and widespread. It is at the beginning of the spread of the disease.

Stage 2 may include the phase 1 of the symptoms and the following:

  • Many eruptions in other parts of the body.
  • Neck pain or stiffness.
  • Muscle weakness on one or both sides of the face.
  • Immune-system activity in the tissue of the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat.
  • The pain starts in the back and the hips and stretches the legs.
  • Pain, numbness, or weakness in the hands or feet.
  • Painful swelling in the tissues of the eye or eyelid.
  • Immune-system activity in the eye of the nerves that cause pain or loss of vision.

Stage 3

In the third stage, you may have symptoms of the earlier stages, and other symptoms. This stage is called the end of the disseminated disease.

In the united States, the most common condition of this stage is the arthritis of large joints, especially the knees. Pain, swelling, or stiffness can last for a long time. Or the symptoms may appear and disappear. Stage 3, the symptoms usually begin 2 to 12 months after a tick bite.

The type of Lyme disease common in Europe and can cause a skin condition called acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans. The skin on the dorsum of the hands and tops of the feet are discolored and swollen. It is also possible that is displayed above the elbows and knees. More severe cases can cause damage to the tissues or joints.

This skin condition can show up to many months, many years after a tick bite.

When to see a doctor

The majority of people who get Lyme disease don't remember having a tick bite. And many of the symptoms of Lyme disease are associated with other conditions. Consult your health care provider if you have symptoms of Lyme disease. An early diagnosis and an appropriate treatment can improve outcomes.

If you know that you had a tick bite, or could have been around ticks, attentive to the symptoms. If it is displayed, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Causes

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium borrelia. In North America, the black-legged tick, also called the deer tick, primarily carriers of the bacterium.

In Europe, different species of borrelia cause Lyme disease. Ticks are carriers of the bacteria. These ticks are known by several names, including the castor bean tick, sheep tick or deer tick.

Tick bites

Ticks feed on the blood is associated with a host of skin. The tick feeds until it swells to many times its normal size. Deer ticks can feed on a host in the blood for several days.

The ticks pick up the bacteria from a host, such as a deer or a rodent. You don't get sick. But they can pass the bacteria to another host. When an infected tick feeds on a person, the bacteria can pass into the blood stream of a person. The bacteria are less prone to the spread of Lyme disease if you remove the tick within 24 hours.

Both young and adult ticks can carry disease. Young ticks are small and difficult to detect. You may not notice if a young man of tick bites you.

Risk factors

Your risk of getting Lyme disease depends on if you're going to spend time where they can live. This includes:

  • Region. The deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease are widespread. It is found primarily in the upper midwest, the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, and in the south-central and southeastern Canada. The castor bean tick is found throughout Europe.
  • The habitat. Ticks live in wooded, bushy or grassy areas.
  • The time of year. The risk of infection is greatest in the spring, summer and fall. But ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing.

Complications

Some people with Lyme disease report symptoms continue after treatment. These long-lasting symptoms can include:

  • Arthritis, which begins with Lyme disease and not improve.
  • Pain in the body.
  • Frequent or constant tiredness.
  • Memory complaints.

These conditions are not clearly understood. Some people with these symptoms may be diagnosed with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, or PTLDS. These long-lasting problems can be caused by:

  • Incomplete treatment.
  • Re-infection with Lyme disease.
  • Immune system's response to the fragments of the killing of the bacteria.
  • Immune system activity that damages healthy tissue, also called autoimmunity.
  • Other terms and conditions of Lyme disease that have not been diagnosed.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites when outdoors. The majority of ticks attach themselves to the bottom of the legs and feet when walking or working on the lawn, wooded areas, or of weeds from the fields. After a tick attaches to your body, it often creeps up to find a place to burrow in the skin.

If you are in or going to be in an area where ticks are likely to live, follow these tips to protect yourself.

The use of tick repellents

  • Spray on outdoor clothing, shoes, tents and other camping gear with a repellent that has a 0.5% permethrin. Some gear and clothing may be pre-treated with permethrin.
  • Use an insect repellent registered with the Environmental Protection Agency on the exposed skin, with the exception of his face. These include repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone.
  • Do not use products with OLE or PMD on children under 3 years of age.

Dress for the protection

  • Wear light-colored clothing that makes it easier for you or others to see ticks on your clothes.
  • Avoid open-toed shoes or sandals.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts tucked into your pants.
  • Wear long pants tucked into socks.

Check for ticks

  • Shower as soon as possible to remove any loose ticks. Check for ticks that may have buried.
  • Use a mirror to check your body well. Pay attention to the armpits, the hair and the scalp. Also, check your ears, the waist, and the area between his legs, behind the knees and on the inside of your belly button.
  • Check your equipment. Before washing your clothes in the open air, putting them in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes to kill ticks.

Other tips

  • Make a daily inspection of ticks on pets that spend a lot of time outdoors.
  • Stay on the paths clear as much as possible in areas with trees and grass.

Diagnosis

If you live in a place where Lyme disease is common, the rash may be sufficient for the diagnosis.

A diagnosis usually depends on the following:

  • A review of all of the signs and symptoms.
  • A history of known or possible exposure to ticks.
  • Blood tests to look for disease-fighting antibodies to the bacteria.

Treatment

Antibiotics are used to treat Lyme disease. In most cases, the recovery will be more rapid and more complete as soon as possible to start the treatment.

Antibiotic pills

The standard treatment for Lyme disease is an antibiotic that is taken in pill form. The treatment usually lasts 10 to 14 days. The treatment may be longer depending on the symptoms. It is important to take all of the pills as directed even if you feel better.

IV antibiotic

Your health care provider may prescribe an antibiotic that is administered directly into a vein, also called an intravenous (IV) antibiotic. An IV antibiotic can be used for more severe disease, especially if you have symptoms of:

  • Long-term arthritis.
  • Disease that affects the nervous system.
  • Disease that affects the heart.

The preventive use of antibiotics

Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic as a preventative measure, also called prophylaxis, only if all three of these conditions occur:

  • The bite of the tick is known to be a deer tick.
  • You live in or recently visited an area where Lyme disease is common.
  • The tick attached to the skin for 36 hours or more.

Antibiotics are the only proven treatment for Lyme disease. Other treatments have not been shown to work or have not been tested.

The disease after Lyme disease

You may have heard the term "chronic Lyme disease." Some people use the term to refer to the long-term symptoms you think may be linked to a previous case of Lyme disease. But that term is not well defined. The research has found that these symptoms are not related to the course of the disease caused by the bacterium borrelia. The research also shows that the continued use of antibiotics does not improve these symptoms.

If you have health problems, or to continue to the health problems after Lyme disease, talk with your provider. The symptoms can be due to many possible causes. Your provider can help you to find out the cause of your symptoms and find the right treatment for you.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you find a tick on your body, follow these steps to remove it:

  • Gloves. If you have them, wear gloves medical or similar gloves to protect your hands.
  • The calipers. The use of fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick firmly close to your mouth as close to the skin as possible.
  • Removal. Steadily and slowly pull the tick's body away from your skin without pulling or twisting it. If parts of the mouth, remain, remove them with clean tweezers.
  • Of the provision. Kill the tick by putting it in alcohol. To avoid exposure to the bacteria, not to crush the tick. The dead tick may be disposed of down the drain or toilet. Or it can be lightly wrapped in tape and thrown in the trash, or is placed in a sealed bag and stored in a freezer.
  • Storage. A tick can be evaluated later, if you think that you have a disease transmitted by ticks. Place the tick in a container, label with the date and place in the freezer.
  • Cleaning. After removing the tick, first use soap and water to wash hands and the site of the tick bite. Then, clean up the site and your hands with rubbing alcohol.

Do not put the petroleum jelly, nail Polish, rubbing alcohol, or a hot match on the tick.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you see your primary care provider or emergency room doctor, in function of their symptoms. You can also see a physician trained in infectious diseases.

If you keep a tick is removed, bring it to the appointment. If you've done the past few outdoor activities and may have had a tick bite, or you may have a disease transmitted by ticks, to be ready to respond to these questions:

  • If a tick bit, when it happened?
  • When do you think you were exposed to ticks?
  • Where have you been, while doing outdoor activities?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer these questions and write the answers prior to your appointment.

  • What symptoms have you experienced?
  • When do you start?
  • You do not have anything to improvement of symptoms or worsening of them?
  • What medicines, food supplements, herbal remedies and vitamins that you take regularly?
  • You have made recent changes to the drugs?
  • Are you allergic to any medication, or if you have other allergies?
Symptoms and treatment of Lyme disease