Those who spend time in the woodland areas of Europe and North America may be at risk for contacting deer ticks, which are known to harbor the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease. Fortunately, there are several measures one can take to avoid tick bites, but if they do contract the illness, it is important to understand how to treat Lyme disease by seeking prompt medical attention.
Symptoms may vary from one person to another and may take up to one month from the time of the tick bite to appear. Joint pain, chills, fever, achy muscles, headache, and fatigue are common, as is a characteristic bull's-eye pattern around the site of the tick bite. A body rash may also develop. More serious but rare complications include heartbeat irregularities, Bell's palsy, weakness or impaired movement of the limbs, eye or liver inflammation, and meningitis. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Because the symptoms seen with this sickness could also be caused by any one of several other disorders, they alone are not used for diagnosis. In the absence of the hallmark rash, the physician will likely ask the patient a number of questions, and request diagnostic lab tests to evaluate the blood for antibodies against this bacteria. The ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay, and Western blot tests are typically implemented.
If the tests confirm that the patient has Lyme disease, antibiotic therapy will be started immediately. The outlook for the patient's long-term recovery is improved substantially if treatment is administered promptly. A two to four week course of oral doxycycline or amoxicillin is most often given, but it is not recommended to continue it past this point since this may be harmful.
Patients who have nervous system or cardiac involvement may be given antibiotics through an IV drip for up to two weeks. Children under the age of 9 or women who are breast-feeding, will be given either amoxicillin or penicillin, as doxycycline can stain developing teeth. Erythromycin is often given to those who are allergic to penicillin-based drugs.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
With prompt antibiotic therapy, most patients will recover from this condition with no long-term effects. However, one bout of this illness does not provide immunity against future infections, even though the antibodies may remain in the bloodstream for up to several years. It is still highly advisable to take the recommended precautions when going outdoors in places that are possibly inhabited by the deer tick.
Symptoms may vary from one person to another and may take up to one month from the time of the tick bite to appear. Joint pain, chills, fever, achy muscles, headache, and fatigue are common, as is a characteristic bull's-eye pattern around the site of the tick bite. A body rash may also develop. More serious but rare complications include heartbeat irregularities, Bell's palsy, weakness or impaired movement of the limbs, eye or liver inflammation, and meningitis. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage.
A tick bite will not necessarily result in one contracting Lyme disease because not all deer ticks carry the bacteria, however it's always advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible if a bite is detected. If left to its own course, this illness can cause chronic arthritis and damage to the nervous system, which is why early treatment is critical.
Because the symptoms seen with this sickness could also be caused by any one of several other disorders, they alone are not used for diagnosis. In the absence of the hallmark rash, the physician will likely ask the patient a number of questions, and request diagnostic lab tests to evaluate the blood for antibodies against this bacteria. The ELISA-enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay, and Western blot tests are typically implemented.
If the tests confirm that the patient has Lyme disease, antibiotic therapy will be started immediately. The outlook for the patient's long-term recovery is improved substantially if treatment is administered promptly. A two to four week course of oral doxycycline or amoxicillin is most often given, but it is not recommended to continue it past this point since this may be harmful.
Patients who have nervous system or cardiac involvement may be given antibiotics through an IV drip for up to two weeks. Children under the age of 9 or women who are breast-feeding, will be given either amoxicillin or penicillin, as doxycycline can stain developing teeth. Erythromycin is often given to those who are allergic to penicillin-based drugs.
Prevention of Lyme disease is the best cure. When one will be outdoors in areas that are grassy or wooded, it's a good idea to wear light-colored, snug clothing which covers the arms and legs, tuck shirts into pants and pant-legs into socks or boots, stay on the central trails and avoid overgrown areas, wear repellents containing DEET or the tick repellent Permethrin, and spray it on clothing before venturing out. After returning home, checking oneself and their family members for signs of ticks is important, if they are removed early, infection may not occur.
With prompt antibiotic therapy, most patients will recover from this condition with no long-term effects. However, one bout of this illness does not provide immunity against future infections, even though the antibodies may remain in the bloodstream for up to several years. It is still highly advisable to take the recommended precautions when going outdoors in places that are possibly inhabited by the deer tick.
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