About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease affects over 20,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is particularly prevalent in the Northeastern United States and in a few states in the Midwest, although cases have been reported throughout the country. If you are concerned that you might have Lyme disease, prompt treatment is recommended to avoid chronic problems due to the infection.
Identification
The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly found in mice and deer, causes Lyme disease infections. A tick bites an infected animal and then bites a person, transmitting the bacterium through the bite. Because ticks are often difficult to see, it is possible to be infected and not even realize it until you develop the symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms
Erythema migrans, commonly called a "bull's-eye" rash, is usually the first symptom of Lyme disease. The rash consists of an outer red ring, a clear middle ring and a red center area. The rash usually appears within a week or two of a tick bite, but it may take up to 30 days to appear. As the days go on, the rash may start to enlarge and you may notice secondary rashes on other areas of the body. Approximately 80 percent of people who are affected by Lyme disease develop the rash. Although the rash may feel warm if you touch it, it is not usually itchy or painful. If you have darker skin, it may be hard to spot the rash and you might mistake it for a bruise.
The rash usually disappears in about a month and can be accompanied by headache, muscle aches, fever, chills, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Untreated Lyme disease can spread to other areas of the body, such as the heart, nervous system or joints, and may cause arthritis or cognitive deterioration. Bell's palsy, a temporary form of facial paralysis, can result from untreated Lyme disease, as can meningitis. Approximately 5 percent of untreated patients will develop chronic problems, such as numbness and tingling in hands or feet, trouble concentrating and shooting pains.
Risk Factors
People who spend time in the woods or in overgrown, grassy areas are more likely to come into contact with carrier ticks. Even if you don't take walks in the woods, your dog or cat can carry the infected ticks on its fur. You can be infected when your pet brushes against you and exposes your skin to the tick. Using a tick-control product on your pets can help reduce this possibility. Insect repellent is recommended if you spend a significant amount of time walking in grassy areas or in the woods.
Diagnosis
Viewing your rash will allow your doctor to make a Lyme disease diagnosis. If you can't see your doctor immediately, take a photograph of your rash and bring it with you when you do see your doctor. If the rash has already resolved or you never had a rash and your doctor suspects that you may have Lyme disease, he will order a blood test to detect Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. It can take a while for these antibodies to develop and more than one test may be needed before a diagnosis can be made.
Treatment
Oral antibiotics are used to treat the early stage of Lyme disease and prevent complications from occurring. Antibiotics are usually given for three to four weeks, depending on the age of the patient and the type of antibiotic used. If Lyme disease is detected after the early stage, an intravenous antibiotic may be used for two to four weeks.
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